ACC
ACC may submit progress report of probe against Wasa MD within 15 days: HC
The High Court on Monday said the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) may submit a progress report of its ongoing investigation against managing director of Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) Taqsem A Khan.
The ACC may submit the progress report within 15 days, said the HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat when ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan drew attention of the court to a newspaper report ‘Taqsem’s 14 houses in the US’
The report was published in Bangla daily ‘Samakal’ on Monday.
Read: Narcotics case: SC upholds HC’s stay order or trial proceedings against Pori Moni
However, the court did not pass any order based on the newspaper report.
According to the Samakal report, the Wasa MD bought 14 houses in different states of the US. Several intelligence agencies including US intelligence watchdog Interpol, have started investigating the source of his money to buy the houses and information about the transaction process.
According to the complaint submitted to the ACC recently, Taqsem laundered thousands crores Taka from Wasa’s big projects with foreign loans to the US through various means including hundi. He bought 14 luxury houses in posh areas of the country including Los Angeles, New York.
Taqsem, also a US citizen, joined Dhaka Wasa as MD in 2009 while staying in the US. All members of his family stay there.
Taqsem also stays with family in the US for about three months every year.
On December 5 last year, HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat asked the ACC for an update on the ongoing investigation against Taqsem following a writ petition challenging the legality of his’s appointment as Wasa MD.
Taqsem A Khan was appointed Wasa MD on a three-year contract in 2009. His contract was extended three times despitehis “poor performance”.
Read: HC Chamber Judge asks Wasa MD to submit salary statement
On October 11, the Appellate Division Chamber Judge sought a report on how much money Taqsem received as salary, bonus and other facilities in the last 13 years.
He was drawing extra salary and allowances going beyond the rules. According to the latest board decision, the monthly salary of Wasa MD is Tk 6.25 lakh.
A case was filed against nine people including Taqsem alleging that Tk 132.4 crore of Dhaka Wasa Employees Multipurpose Cooperative Society was withdrawn and embezzled from six banks through various checks with the help and instructions of Wasa MD.
The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) also sent a letter to all banks seeking information of accounts of the Wasa MD on August 25 last year.
TIB wants ACC's work order granting greater powers to secretary withdrawn
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has demanded that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) withdraw the work order that gives its secretary the authority to appoint and transfer Deputy Director and Assistant Director rank officers involved in any investigation and inquiry.
TIB voiced worry that this order could undermine the power of the ACC because the commission's chairman and commissioners will no longer have the aforementioned power, according to a press release.
Mentioning the office order published on the ACC website on December 18, Iftekharuzzaman, the executive director of TIB, said, “According to the relevant law, the executive power of the ACC is entrusted to the chairman and the commissioners under his leadership."
“What was the logic behind this shift of executive power? Why did the Commission decide to leave the power in the hands of the secretary, aka the bureaucracy?” asked Iftekharuzzaman.
“This suicidal decision cedes all powers to the bureaucracy, including the permanent employment of ACC investigating officers, granting of current duties, allowances and leave, pension, PRL, awards on conviction of cases, and so on. Nothing remains of the ACC now,” he added.
Stating the shift in executive authority to be the final nail in the coffin of public expectations from the national anti-graft agency, TIB urged to revoke the order as soon as possible.
Read more: IMF’s conditions for loan: TIB watchful about “discriminatory implications”
ACC turns into BNP suppression commission: Mosharraf
BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Saturday alleged that the government has turned the Anti-Corruption Commission into a 'BNP suppression commission'.
“The fascist government has once again conspired against the BNP leaders, and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has become a tool of this plot. As if the ACC has now become the BNP suppression commission,” he said.
Mosharraf made the remarks while speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.
The press conference was arranged in protest against the court order to confiscate moveable (bank accounts) and immovable (land-related) properties of BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and his wife Zubaida Rahman in a case filed by the ACC.
Read: 'Not one iota of democracy now in Bangladesh': BNP's Tuku
Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said the charges brought against Tarique Rahmam and Dr Zubaida Rahman in the case filed by the ACC were false, baseless and unfounded. The (court) order that was passed is vindictive and at the behest of the government.”
He alleged that the current ‘vindictive’ government has been spreading lies like Goebbels by filing a case on false, fabricated and imagery charges against the party acting chairman and his wife.
The BNP leader said the court gave the verdict in the ‘false and conspiratorial case as per a directive of the government only to destroy the morale of the BNP leaders and workers and mislead the common people.
“We strongly protest and condemn the government's nefarious activities and demand the cancellation of the dictated court verdict and withdrawal of the ‘false and conspiratorial’ case against Tarique and Zubaida,” the BNP leader said.
Mosharraf alleged that the case was filed against Tarique for the property that he doesn’t own and he has no relation with it. “He was shown owner of the fictitious assets. Even, imaginary allegations have been brought against Tarique Rahman and Dr Zubaida in the case for the assets they paid tax.”
Read: PM’s resignation a 'prerequisite' for credible polls: Gayeshwar
He said the government will not be able to put Tarique’s leadership under question and belittle his wife with such an order of the court. “The ongoing movement to restore democracy, human rights, voting rights and the rule of law cannot be directed to another direction or foiled.”
Mosharraf bemoaned that though the ruling party leaders are indulging in ‘widespread’ corruption, the ACC has turned a blind eye to the government’s corruption.
“The ACC does not take any action against those the government-backed businessmen and the ruling party leaders and activists have created a paradise of corruption in the country,” he observed.
The BNP leader said the court order against Tarique and his wife has been given at a time when the country’s people have woken up to oust the current regime. “The government has got panicked seeing the mass wave of people towards BNP’s programmes. All these things are being done by the government to stop or weaken the ongoing movement.”
Mosharraf warned that no repressive acts can suppress people and foil the current movement for the restoration of democracy.
Meanwhile, the leaders and activists of Dhaka South City unit staged a demonstration in Nayapaltan area protesting the court order against Tarique and Zubaida.
ACC submits chargesheet against BNP leader Mirza Abbas, wife
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Tuesday submitted a charge sheet against BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas and his wife Afroza Abbas in a case filed for acquiring wealth illegally.
ACC Secretary Mahbub Hossain disclosed this at a press briefing at the ACC headquarters.
Read more: ACC going after BNP's Amir Khasru with undisclosed equity arrangement in Hotel Sarina
The case was filed with Shahjahanpur (DMP) police station on January 7, 2019.
According to the case, the couple acquired wealth worth around Tk 20.75 crore beyond their known source of their income.
ACC team visits Sonaimuri to investigate Upazila Election Office
The Anti-Corruption Commission ( ACC) on Sunday conducted a comprehensive drive on various irregularities-corruption complaints against the officers and employees of Upazila Election Office of Sonaimuri in Noakhali.
A team consisting of four members from the Coordinated Integrated office of ACC, Noakhali conducted enforcement operations.
During the drive, the team interacted with the service users under cover to get any adverse comments regarding the various irregularities of the election office.
Read more: ACC moves to sign deals with 8 nations to bring laundered money back
Even then the service receivers informed the team that there is no irregularity.
When the upazila election officer was asked about this, he said that he joined this office last September. He is aware and aware of this.
He assured the team that appropriate action will be taken regarding the complaint.
During the raid, the team searched for the alleged brokers in disguise but no such syndicate was found in the office at the time.
ACC moves to sign deals with 8 nations to bring laundered money back
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Tuesday initiated a process for signing agreement with eight countries for mutual legal assistance to bring back money laundered abroad, said ACC Secretary Md. Mahbub Hossain.
As part of the initiative, a committee has already been formed under the leadership of Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) consisting of officials from various related organisations. The committee will submit the draft agreement to the Financial Institutions Department within the next three weeks, he said.
Read: HC cancels 2014 acquittal of accused trio in Tk 12cr Sonali Bank graft case
He said that the countries with which ACC wants to sign agreements are Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates and Thailand.
HC orders speedy disposal of graft case against Gayeshwar
The High Court (HC) on Thursday ordered the trial court to dispose of the case against BNP Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat passed the order rejecting a petition filed by Gayeshwar Chandra in 2010 seeking cancelation of the case.
The court cleared the way for resuming trial in the case lifting the stay order on the trial proceedings.
Lawyer Nitai Roy Chowdhury appeared for the petitioner in court while Advocate M Khurshid Alam Khan for the ACC and Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik for the state.
read more: It’s not administration’s duty to help govt to perpetuate power: Gayeshwar
On January 5 in 2009, the ACC lodged a complaint with Ramna police station against Gayeshwar for amassing illegal wealth of Tk 2.86 crore and concealing the information.
ACC submitted a chargesheet to the court on July 5 of the same year.
Later in 2010, the High Court stayed the trail proceedings in the case in 2010 as Gayeshwar filed a petition to quash the case. At the same time, the court issued a rule in this regard.
read more: People will make movement a success this time: Gayeshwar
Food controller in Habiganj didn't buy paddy from farmers
The Anti Corruption Commission today conducted an operation against the Upazila Food Controller of Nabiganj upazila under Habiganj, for collecting paddy from a syndicate bypassing the local farmers.
A team consisting of three members from the co-ordinaated office of the ACC in Habiganj conducted the enforcement operation, according to deputy director of ACC Public Relations office Muhammad Arif Sadeq.
The Commission received some allegations that the Food Controller of Nabiganj collected paddy from a selected person and charged extra for allotting dealerships under the Open Market Sale (OMS) scheme.
Read more: ACC won’t renew Shakib’s contract as goodwill ambassador over ‘controversy’
During the operation, the list of farmers selected by the concerned office for the procurement of Boro paddy during the 2021-22 fiscal, receipts of purchase of paddy from farmers, weight standard and inventory certificates, loading/unloading instructions, and Khamar card were retrieved.
Later, the enforcement team visited food warehouses and OMS outlets to verify the authenticity.
The enforcement team will soon submit a report in this regard to the ACC high command, for a review of actions taken and submission of complaint, if necessary, for further action.
When a retired ACC official in Brahmanbaria listened to his conscience
Travelling without a ticket may be a common offence.
But after travelling without tickets for many years, a 61-year-old retired Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) official chose to listen to his conscience.
Emdadul Haque, a resident of Kanikara village in Nabinagar upazila, came back to Brahmanbaria railway station on Monday and paid Tk 2,350 to the station master.
"The amount was due to the railways as all these years I travelled without a ticket to Dhaka from the district. Now I will get peace of mind," said Emdadul.
Also read: Probe body formed over Natore train derailment
Chief booking assistant of Brahmanbaria railway station, Kabir Hossain Talukder, said he was really moved by Emdadul's gesture.
“We issued tickets worth Tk 2,530 for an intercity train, Mahanagar Provati, from Brahmanbaria to Chattogram so that Emdadul can 'repay his debt'. His honesty is an inspiration for all of us,” he said.
Emdadul’s son Imran said his father is basically a man of integrity.
“During the last year of service, he travelled to Dhaka from Brahmanbaria several times without a ticket but kept an account of it," he said.
Also read: Unmanned rail crossings are mostly to blame for rail accidents
Why not cancel bail on ACC's plea, HC asks Samrat
The High Court on Tuesday issued a notice to expelled Jubo League leader Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat asking why his bail should not be cancelled in a money laundering case.
A bench of justices Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Khizir Hayat issued the rule on a plea by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) seeking cancellation of the bail.
The court fixed October 23 as the next date of hearing in the case.
Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan represented the ACC during the hearing.
On Monday, the ACC lawyer filed the plea after taking permission from the High Court bench of justices.
Read: HC rejects Hallmark chairperson’s bail plea in graft case
On August 22, Judge Asad Md Asifuzzaman of Dhaka Special Judge Court-6 granted bail to Samrat in the money laundering case.
The court granted him bail till September 19 considering his poor health condition on a Tk 10,000 bond.
With this, Samrat has secured bail in four cases and there is no legal bar to his release, said his lawyer Ehsanul Haque Samazi.
The judge had also asked him to submit his passport to the court as his bail condition, and he was also asked to take the court's permission to go abroad.
Samrat secured bail in a drugs case on April 11 and in an Arms Act case and the money laundering case on April 10.
The expelled Jubo League leader was under treatment at the prison cell of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) hospital from November 24 last year.
In October 2019, Rab detained Samrat and his associate Enamul Haque Arman from Chauddagram in Cumilla.
Rab raided his Kakrail office the next day. Huge quantities of foreign liquor, pistols, and two hides of kangaroo were seized from his office.
Read: ACC goes to HC seeking cancellation of Samrat’s bail
He was later sentenced by a mobile court to six months in prison under the Wildlife Conservation Act.
Abdul Khaleque, deputy assistant director of Rab-1, lodged two complaints against Samrat at Ramna police station under the Arms and the Narcotics acts. Arman was made an accused in the narcotics case.
Shekhar Chandra Mallik, a sub-inspector, submitted a chargesheet against Samrat in the Arms Act case.
The ACC lodged a complaint against him for acquiring assets worth Tk 2.94 crore beyond his known sources of income.
Rashedur Rahman, sub-inspector of CID, registered a case against him at the Ramna police station for laundering Tk 195 crore to Malaysia and Singapore. Last November, the investigating officer in the case submitted a chargesheet in the court.