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ACC forms body to probe Jaha Alam case

TIB demands compensation


FE Report | February 05, 2019 00:00:00


Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) formed on Monday a committee to investigate the matter of Jaha Alam who was put in prison for three years in a loan forgery case even after being an innocent.

The committee, headed by the commission's legal wing Director Abu Hasnat Md Abdul Wadud, was set up to look into the case, said ACC spokesperson Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya.

ACC Chairman Iqbal Mahmood said stern action will be taken against the officials concerned if they are found guilty, according to the spokesman.

The probe committee was formed hours after ill-fated jute mill worker Jaha Alam, who had been languishing in jail since February 2016, was released. He was arrested in connection with the cases filed by the ACC for misappropriation of loan from Sonali Bank Limited (SBL).

Meanwhile, Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB) expressed its satisfaction over the release of Jaha Alam and demanded compensation for the victim.

It said Alam was in jail for three years instead of a real person accused in 26 corruption cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Local chapter of the Berlin-based Transparency International (TI) also demanded exemplarily punishment to those who were involved in replacing him wrongly with the real accused and implicating him in cases.

TIB in a statement on Monday urged the authorities concerned to immediately pay compensation as three years were lost from the life of innocent man.

TIB executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman in the statement said, "The HC directions in releasing Jaha Alam and taking legal action against the officials involved in the flawed probe is an end to derailed justice."

But there is nothing for complacency over the release of Alam rather due compensation should be given to him, although nothing can compensate for loss of three years.

He also demanded stern action against the officials responsible so that such incident cannot reoccur in future as the incident held the ACC questionable.

Mr Zaman also raised question as to why there was eight-month delay in releasing Alam even after the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) formally informed the ACC about this.

The HC on January 28 summoned the director general of the ACC and three others to explain why Jaha Alam was in jail for last three years instead of the real accused.

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