The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) conducted a raid at the state-owned Central Cattle Breeding and Dairy Farm in Savar on Monday, investigating allegations of providing unethical benefits to Sadeeq Agro Limited.
Led by ACC Assistant Director Abul Kalam Azad, a nine-member team inspected the farm, focusing on allegations of tender fraud and the unauthorized import of 18 Brahman breed cows by Sadeeq Agro in July 2021, using forged documents claiming they were Sahiwal breed.
Customs authorities intercepted these cows at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and transferred them to the state-owned farm in Savar, where they remained
until 2023. During this period, Sadeeq Agro allegedly colluded
with farm officials to reclaim
the cattle.
In a subsequent legal battle, the High Court upheld the customs' decision to seize the cows on August 3 of the same year. Following this, a committee auctioned off 16 cows for meat at a nominal price to the Dairy Farm Association in 2023.
ACC Assistant Director Abul Kalam Azad emphasised their investigation's focus on determining how these cows ended up with
Sadeeq Agro.
Recently, Sadeeq Agro gained attention for selling a goat for Tk12 lakh to the son of former National Board of Revenue officer Matiur Rahman. Additionally, the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) demolished illegal structures, including those of Sadeeq Agro, on June 27 to reclaim illegally occupied land.
