The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh is investigating British American Tobacco (BAT) Bangladesh. The probe targets allegations of fraud and money laundering.
The company allegedly seized state-owned factories illegally after Bangladesh's 1971 independence.
The allegations also state that BAT Bangladesh smuggled between $20 billion and $30 billion out of the country. This activity reportedly occurred over the past 55 years.
The ACC demanded extensive corporate and historical records from the Joint Stock Registrar. The commission also requested documents from the managing director of BAT Bangladesh.
The deadline for submitting these records is June 15, 2026.
Global stock prices showed no significant reaction to the announcement. Analysts and supporters question the mathematical feasibility of the decades-long allegations.