US moves to retrieve alleged bribes paid to Khalida's son

Dhaka: The United States has moved to confiscate nearly $3 million (Dh11 million), an amount allegedly given to ex-Bangladeshi prime minister Khalida Zia's younger son Arafat Rahman Koko in bribes over projects involving German and Chinese firms.

Complaint

"The forfeiture complaint relates primarily to alleged bribes paid to Arafat Rahman [Koko], the [younger] son of the former prime minister Khalida Zia, in connection with public works projects awarded by the Bangladesh government to Siemens AG and China Harbour Engineering Company," reports published here on Sunday quoting a US Justice Department statement said.

The reports said the forfeiture action was launched on January 8 in a US District Court in the district of Columbia against funds located in Singapore held by multiple account-holders.

At least one payment to each of the purported consultants was paid from a US bank account, the reports said.