Allegations of Corruption and Money Laundering Against the Editor of Daily Janakantha and Family

Saifur Rahman, Dhaka, [17.08.24] — The editor of Daily Janakantha and Chairman of the Globe Janakantha Shilpa Paribar, Shamima Atikullah Khan, along with her two sons, Mishal A Khan and Jishal A Khan, are facing serious allegations of corruption, money laundering, loan default, and tax evasion.

Over the past 15 years during the rule of the Awami League government, the family has been accused of siphoning off billions of taka from various banks in Bangladesh through fraudulent means and laundering the money abroad. Specifically, reports indicate that funds were embezzled from Janata Bank Limited and Mercantile Bank. According to Zafar Ahmed, Assistant General Manager of Janata Bank’s Motijheel branch, as well as several other unnamed officials, none of the outstanding loans had been repaid up until the fall of the Hasina government.

In addition to these charges, it has been alleged that the family evaded paying approximately 160 crore taka in taxes during the tenure of the Hasina government. Instead of reinvesting this money into businesses within Bangladesh, the funds were reportedly laundered to the United States and to Russia, where Mishal A Khan’s in-laws reside.

Shamima Atikullah Khan and her family have also been accused of using their media outlet to propagate narratives in favor of the Hasina government, often at the expense of the general public. Furthermore, there have been reports of systematic oppression of employees within their organization, with hundreds of employees allegedly being denied their dues for years, even after filing cases in labor courts. Despite numerous legal challenges, justice has remained elusive for these workers.

While the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has ongoing cases against the family, the Hasina government, despite knowing of their loan defaults, allegedly shielded them from facing legal consequences. In fact, it has been reported that the government rewarded them with a monthly payment of 7.5 million taka for their favorable coverage.

In light of these allegations, there is a growing call for stringent actions to be taken against such corruption and wrongdoing. The current interim government is expected to address these issues by bringing these powerful figures to justice. Citizens are urged to remain vigilant to ensure that such individuals are held accountable and prevented from escaping justice.