corruption
“Will take action over allegations of corruption, nepotism in recruiting Biman pilots”
Action will be taken over allegations of corruption and nepotism in recruitment of Biman Bangladesh Airlines pilots, state minister for civil aviation and tourism Md Mahbub Ali warned today (September 6, 2022).
He was speaking at the 'BSRF Dialogue' organised by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) at the Secretariat.
The state minister said several newspapers have reported on the allegations regarding the pilots' recruitment.
Read: Biman launches flights to China’s Guangzhou
"It has been investigated by the highest level, through various agencies. We have also investigated the issues through our ministry, and the airline has its own investigation too," the state minister said.
Likely, nine of the initially appointed pilots were selected and were dropped or they did not join, he added.
He said some are currently in simulation training.
Read:ACC approves charges against 3 former, 1 current Biman high-ups
“This is the latest information I have. Reviewing their performance from the training, a final decision will be made on their appointments,” he said.
"We will also take action against those who initially selected them (pilots), following the investigation report," Mahbub added.
Bangladesh Pilot Association (BAPA) also sent a letter to the airlines' managing director on August 28 demanding investigation into irregularities, corruption and nepotism in recruiting pilots.
Read US-Bangla to operate international flights on four routes from Saturday
Regarding the harassment at the tourist center, he said the deputy commissioners (DCs) of Cox's Bazar and other tourist destinations were directed to monitor everything closely. "I asked the magistrate to see the price list."
The state minister also hoped that the newly-built third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport will be able to operate from October next year.
At the third terminal, arrangements are being made so that passengers can get transport at all times, he added.
Read US-Bangla resumes Chattogram-Kolkata flights September 1
He also said initiatives have been taken to upgrade Cox's Bazar Airport to an international standard. Besides, aesthetically pleasing and modern terminals have been constructed in Saidpur and Jashore.
"We will also take the initiative to construct an airport in Barishal."
Regarding gold smuggling, the state minister said, "We have instructed airport authorities to check all passengers as soon as they get off flights."
Read US-Bangla to operate two daily flight from Dhaka-Kolkata from August 4
BSRF general secretary Masudul Haque presided over the dialogue chaired by its president Tapan Biswas.
71pc households of the country victims of corruption: TIB
Around 70.9 per cent of the country’s households have to pay bribes in getting government services from various sectors, said a household survey of the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on Wednesday.
The survey, titled ‘Corruption in Service Sectors: National Household Survey 2021’, also revealed that the law enforcement agencies are the most corrupt service sector (74.4 pc) followed by the Department of Immigration and Passports (DIP) (70.5 pc) and Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) (68.3 pc).
Other most corrupt services sectors include judiciary (56.8 pc), health (48.7 pc), local government institutions (46.6 pc) and land services (46.3 pc).
The survey report said that the country’s overall bribery rate is 40.1 per cent, with the top three sectors receiving bribes being passports, law enforcement agencies and BRTA.
Up to 72.1 percent of the victims of bribery mentioned “service not available without bribery” as the reason for paying bribes, which means that bribery continues to be institutionalized.
Every household, on average, has to pay a bribe of Tk 6,636 annually and the three most bribe-taking sectors are insurance, judiciary and gas services, said the report.
The survey revealed that an amount of Tk 10,830 crore was exchanged as bribe in the services sector during the survey period from December 2020 to November 2021, which was 0.4 per cent of the country's GDP in fiscal year 2020-21 and 5.9 per cent of revised budget of the same financial year.
The TIB has conducted nine National Household Surveys since 1997.
Read:TIB’s report on TCB products not based on proper information: Commerce Minister
According to the survey, the rate of corruption in the service sectors has increased compared to 2017. In 2021, while the rate of corruption in the same sectors was found to be 70.8 percent, in 2017 this rate was 66.5 percent. Compared to 2017, the rate of bribes or unauthorized payments has decreased in 2021 but the amount of bribes has increased.
Due to the government’s digitization process, corruption in some sectors remains the same (law enforcement agencies, passport, BRTA, etc.) and has increased in some sectors (local government institutions, NGOs, insurance, etc.). In addition, compared to 2017, the rate of bribery increased in some sectors (local government institutions) and decreased in some sectors (agriculture, education and health) in 2021.
The survey shows that in 2021, the incidence of bribery in the service sectors was higher in rural areas than in urban areas (36.6pc vs. 46.5 pc). The burden of corruption is higher on low-income households than on high-income households. Low-income households are forced to pay a higher proportion of their annual income in bribes than high-income households in order to receive services.
The survey result also shows that female service recipients were victims of corruption more than male service recipients in some sectors (health, local government institutions, other sectors) and male service recipients were victims of corruption more than women in certain sectors (education, public services). In addition, service recipients aged 36 and above are relatively more victims of corruption compared to service recipients below 35 years.
The graft watchdog has put forward a 10-point recommendation based on the opinions of households which took part in the survey. The recommendations include ensuring legal accountability for those involved in corruption, digitalization of all government services, implementing the code of conduct for service providers and wide publicity of the government’s Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM).
Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of TIB, said this household survey does not have any connection with Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI).
The global body does not use the findings from this survey and other research conducted by the TIB while preparing the CPI, he said.
Chattogram: Ex-civil surgeon lands in jail in corruption case
The former Civil Surgeon of Chattogram on Sunday was sent to jail by a court in a case filed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on account of swindling money Tk 9.15 crore.
The former civil surgeon and also caretaker of Chattogram General Hospital is Dr Sarfaraz Khan Chowdhury.
The court of Chattogram Metropolitan Session Judge and Special Judge Dr Begum Jebunnesa passed the order after rejecting a bail petition placed by the accused in person before the court, said Md Fakhruddin Chowdhury, public prosecutor of the court.
Referring to the case statement, PP Fakhruddin said the accused in the case bought an MRI machine for the General Hospital for over Tk 6.15 crore, though its market price was only Tk 2 crore.
Similarly, they also purchased four other colour Doppler machines for Tk 2.6 crore against a market price of only Tk 98 lakh.
Read: GK Shamim: Court sets Sept 25 for verdict in arms case
The accused is suspected of pocketing the difference in both cases.
Mentionable, Mohammad Sirajul Haque, assistant director of the ACC in Chattogram integrated office -1 filed the case against seven people including the former civil surgeon on charge of embezzling Tk 9.15 crore in the name of purchasing medical accessories on November 25, 2019.
The others accused in the case are the general hospital’s physicians Dr Md Abdur Rob, Dr Md Moinuddin Majumdar, Dr Bijon Kumar Nath, accessories supply organization’s owner Md Jaher Uddin Sarkar, M/S Ahmad Enterprise’s ower Munsi Faruk Ahmed and ASL Managing Director and CEO Aftab Ahmed.
BFIU summons WASA chief Taqsem’s bank account details
The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has summoned the bank accounts of Taqsem A Khan, managing director (MD) of Dhaka WASA, and his family members, sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday.
Amid growing public concern over alleged poor service of Dhaka WASA, the central bank’s financial intelligence agency sent a notification to all banks asking for the account details of Taqsem Khan and his family members, said the sources wishing anonymity.
In 2009, Taqsem was appointed as the MD of Dhaka WASA. He was reappointed for a sixth term on October 1, 2020.
Last week, the High Court asked the relevant authorites to submit a report on the salaries, allowances and other perks given to the WASA boss in the 13 years since his appointment. This order came in response to a writ petition, and the report has to be placed before the court within 60 days.
Read: Court rejects Tk132 crore embezzlement complaint against Dhaka WASA MD, 8 others
GM Quader calls for white paper on corruption in the energy sector
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Friday demanded that a white paper on corruption in the energy sector be published.
“The people of the country want to know how many thousands of crores of takas of corruption have been committed in the energy sector every year. Who are involved in the corruption?” he said.
Speaking at the council Jatiya Party’s Mirpur and Shahali Thana units at the Eidgah Ground on National Zoo Road in the capital's Mirpur area, GM Quader also said a list of those involved in the corruption should be published to bring them to justice.
He said they also want to know the list of those who are siphoning off thousands of crores of takas abroad every year. The money launderers should be brought to justice.”
The Jatiya Party chief alleged that Tk4 lakh crores were deposited from Bangladesh to Swiss banks last year. “The government is putting itself under questions by not disclosing the money launderers’ information.”
Read:Govt hardly cares about public sufferings: GM Quader
He accused the government of favouring the offenders by not taking action against the corrupt and money launderers.
“The common people think that the current government is not disclosing the information of corruption to save the influential persons and the ruling party leaders,” the Jatiya Party chairman observed.
He said that some ruling party leaders look for conspiracy even if Jatiya Party talks about the interests of the country.
“As we said, the country is going to be a failed state like Sri Lanka, we’re called fools. But why is the entire country now facing loadshedding? Why has the price of the dollar increased so much? Why has the price of fuel increased so much?” GM Quader said.
No need to hike fuel price if BPC’s corruption and mismanagement end: CPD
The government could have avoided the unprecedented hike in the fuel price by checking corruption, theft and mismanagement of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation and improving the state-run agency’s efficiency, according to the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD).
The think tank made the observations at a press briefing at its Dhanmondi office in the city on Wednesday.
According to the CPD, the price of octane per litre in Bangladesh is Tk10 higher compared with price in neighbouring India while the price of diesel is higher by Tk 2.
The price of octane is higher by Tk 29 and diesel by Tk 16 compared to Vietnam which is Bangladesh’s biggest competitor in global RMG market.
It also urged the government to revert decision for the fuel price hike saying, the impact of the hike will have a multiplier effect on the economy.
“The fuel price hike will push up the current 7.5 per cent inflation to a further higher level”, said Dr Fahmida Khairun, executive director of the CPD.
Read: Writ petition challenges legality of raising fuel prices
She made a presentation tiled: “Could Unprecedented Fuel Price Hike be Avoided Now?”.
Former agriculture secretary Anwar Faruque , who was speaking at the event as a specialist, said the cost of rice production will go up by Tk 1000 per bigha due to the latest fuel price hike. Finally the price of coarse rice will go up to Tk 60 per kg in the coming season, he said.
Considering this, the cost of rice production per hectare (1 hectare equal 3.95 bigha) will go up by Tk 4000, he warned.
Faruque urged the government to immediately announce the price for the procurement of paddy in the next boro season.
“Otherwise, the farmer will not be encouraged to produce rice fearing the loss which will jeopardise the food security”, he told the event.
Energy expert Dr Ijaz Hossain said that it will be wise to introduce a formula and adjust the fuel price through the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC).
The energy regulator is entrusted with the responsibility and the consumers remain prepared to pay higher price when price goes up globally. They will get the benefit of lower price when it comes down, he said.
“If India can adjust fuel price tagging with global market, why can’t Bangladesh do it?, he asked.
CPD research director Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem said that there is no transparency and accountability of the BPC which has a deposit of over Tk 25,000 crore with different banks.
Despite such a huge deposits, why they need to go to increase the fuel price when everybody is under an economic pressure due to high inflation?, he said.
BKMEA Vice President Fazle Shamim Ehsan said that fuel price will have enormous impact on the industries as it will directly hit the workers’ cost of living.
If they leave their jobs due to the increased cost and go to village, the industries will suffer the most, he said.
Bangladesh Jatri Kalayan Samity’s Secretary General Mozammel Haque Chowdhory said a passenger’s monthly expense in transport will go up by Tk2100-6000 causing a huge social impact at this moment of high inflation.
‘Mega’ corruption, plundering by govt behind loadshedding: BNP
BNP on Saturday alleged that the county’s people are going through suffering caused by frequent power outages due to ‘mega’ corruption and plundering by the government.
“Bangladesh has now the capacity to generate much more power than it needs. But why loadshedding are occurring now? The reason behind is mega corruption and theft,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Speaking at a public rally, he alleged that thousands of crores of taka have been paid to 10 companies as capacity charges though they did not produce any power since the government signed such deals with quick-rental and other power plants.
Also read: BNP slams govt for anarchy on roads
Dhaka South City unit BNP arranged the rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club protesting the ongoing loadshedding, mismanagement in the energy sector and the hikes in fuel and gas prices.
Fakhrul said a fund was created taking surcharge from people for offshore gas exploration. “It’s alarming that the government has taken around 25,00 crores taka from that fund to buy gas (from abroad). “This is another trickery and robbery.”
He alleged that on the one hand, the ruling party leaders siphoned off thousands of crores of taka abroad in the name of electricity production, on the other hand, the Awami League-backed businessmen made huge money by importing LNG and LPG gas as fuel. “In this way, they are ruining the economy of the country.”
Also read: Fuel, forex reserves may run out after power crisis: Fakhrul
Referring to a media report the BNP leader said some public universities have started enrolling students before constructing their infrastructure. “It’s also alarming. You have seen the corruption in the acquisition of land for Chandpur University by the relatives of the Education Minister. Such corruption is going on everywhere.”
He said the ruling party leaders are involved in all sorts of theft, robbery and misdeeds. “Their only goal is to plunder money and destroy everything in the country. The government is confusing people through the myth of development.”
Fakhrul called upon the BNP leaders and activists to prepare for a one-point movement to ensure the fall of the government.
Regent's Shahed gets bail in Tk2.75 crore embezzlement case
The High Court Thursday granted permanent bail to Regent Hospital Chair Mohammad Shahed in a corruption case filed on charge of nearly Tk2.75 crore embezzlement from Padma Bank (formerly Farmers Bank).
The bench of Justice SM Kuddus Zaman and Justice KM Zahid Sarwar Kazal gave the order.
Lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan represented the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) while lawyer Masudul Haque stood for Shahed.
In 2020, ACC Deputy Director Md Shahjahan Miraj filed a case against four people, including Shahed.
The ACC will appeal before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court challenging the High Court order, Khurshid said.
Also, Shahed, who was arrested in several other criminal cases, cannot be released from jail, he added.
Also read: SC suspends bail order by HC to Regent’s Shahed in arms case
Ratanpur Steel Mills Group MD held
Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) has detained the managing director of the Ratanpur Steel Re-Rolling Mills (RSRM) Group from the Gulshan area.
Maksudur Rahman is one of the country's top loan defaulters.
Tipped off, a Rab team raided the area of the city around 1am and detained Maksudur, said Imran Khan, ASP (media wing) at Rab HQ.
Maksudur was a wanted criminal, the elite force said.
Read: Corruption in NSU’s land acquisition: HC orders arrest of 4 trustees
HC orders disposal of ex-MP Bodi’s graft case in 1 yr
The High Court on Sunday ordered the lower court concerned to dispose of a graft case against former Cox’s Bazar MP Abdur Rahman Bodi in a year.
The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Judge Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo passed the order rejecting Bodi’s plea to stay the trial of the case.
Advocate Rafikul Islam Sohel appeared for the writ petition in the court, while Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Besides, Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik and Assistant Attorney General Anna Khanam Kali represented the state.
On January 18, HC rejected an appeal of Abdur Rahman Bodi seeking the cancellation of indictment order in this case. Later, he sought the stay of the trial of the case, said Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan.
On December 17 in 2007, ACC Chattogram Region Deputy Director Abul Kalam Azad filed the case against Bodi on charges of concealing information of assets worth Tk 57,11,500 and acquiring wealth illegally worth Tk 79,37,797.
In 2017, the proceedings of the case started after a long delay.
On September 13, 2020, a Chattogram court ordered charge framing against him in the case rejecting his plea for exemption.
Also read: Ex-MP Bodi goes viral for beating two AL leaders