The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Sunday quizzed the director general of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on allegations of funds embezzlement and abuse of power.
 
Deputy director of the ACC’s public relations office Muhammad Arif Sadeq told UNB that  Shilapakala DG Liaqat Ali Lucky arrived at 10.30am while a notice was issued asking him to appear before the commission at its head office.

Read: ACC to grill Shilpakala Academy DG on Jan 16
 
ACC Deputy Director Mohammad Ibrahim, head of a 2-member team probing the allegations, grilled him.The other team member is deputy director Afnan Jannat Keya.
 
Earlier, the commission asked the DG of the Academy to submit the expenditure records following allegations of funds embezzlement and abuse of power.
 
The ACC decided to launch a probe on the allegations on 2 January, 2021.
 
The ACC sought the records of the expenditure of the budget allotted to the academy for the financial years 2019-2020, 2020-2021, the records of the cost of organising virtual programmes during Covid-19 in 2020, and the bank statement of BSA with Sonali Bank till 31 December, 2021.
 
Earlier, the commission had also asked the academy to submit the necessary records and documents within 11 January.
 
In the last few months, there have been some allegations against the DG of the academy, including abuse of power and bribery. There is also a specific allegation of withdrawing Tk 260 million.

Read: Shilpakala Academy DG asked to submit records to ACC
 
According to the complaint received by the ACC, the DG removed Tk 26 crore by appointing a contract officer as the secretary without following the rules and regulations.
 
Talking to reporters Lucky parried questions regarding the allegations.
He said he does not want to speak about the various expenditure incurred in holding several international events.