“Innocent Jaha Alam had been in jail for 1092 days only because of a political role of the Awami League government-backed Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC),” said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he further said, “The ACC’s role in the long imprisonment of Jaha Alam is unprecedentedly despicable. This incident has exposed a picture of the country’s criminal administration.”
Rizvi also alleged that a ‘criminal economy’ has taken a serious turn in the country due to pampering by the ACC.
Jute mill worker Jaha Alam, who had been languishing in jail since February 2016 instead of the real accused in 26 corruption cases, was released from Kashimpur Central Jail-2 in Gazipur early Monday following a High Court order.
He was arrested in cases filed by the ACC for misappropriating huge Sonali Bank money while the real accused, Abu Salek, is roaming free.
Rizvi alleged that the high officials of the current ACC are nothing, but the tyrannical machine to implement the government's vengeance.
He alleged that the anti-graft watchdog has become inhuman by indulging in unjust acts to desperately suppress opposition political forces.
“Innocent and helpless people are not spared from the inhumanity of getting implicated in false cases by the ACC. It’s long been working with fierce virulence to capture the democratic forces in the chain of subordination only to meet the demands of the government. BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, acting chairman Tarique Rahman and many of its leaders have been brutally subjected to the ACC’s such acts,” Rizvi observed
He also said Jaha Alam was imprisoned instead of the real offender due to the ACC’s such ‘evil practice’.
The BNP leader also alleged that the anti-graft watchdog could not even touch the hair of those who involved in ‘mega corruption’ over the last 10 years.
“Many of the minister and advisers of Awami League who are allegedly involved in corruption of thousands of crore taka could not have roamed freely with immense power and influence, had the ACC taken any action against them,” he added.