13 more corruption suspects asked to submit wealth reports

FE Team | Published: June 29, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

The Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) has summoned 13 more corruption suspects to submit their wealth statement and far more are within the dragnet of the watchdog, as the purge seems to be picking up on a higher scale, reports UNB.
"We have sought wealth statements from 13 new (corrupt suspects)â€¦Thirteen is not a big figure. Big numbers are coming," ACC chairman Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury told reporters Thursday afternoon.
The crusader against corruption wouldn't name any names. But, a highly placed source told the news agency that the Commission actually in its meeting Thursday approved the issuing of notices to 13 more suspects. However, letters directing them to submit account of their wealth have not yet been issued.
"The letters are very likely to be issued Sunday or Monday," the source said.
Those who are likely to be summoned in the next group are former minister Maudud Ahmed, former minister Aminul Haque, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's assistant private secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, former Commerce Adviser and Juba Dal president Barkat Ullah Bulu, former APS to Hasina Rabiul Muqtadir, Awami League (AL) religion adviser Sheikh Md Abdullah, former minister Mirza Abbas' brother Mirza Khokon, former Chhatra League president Liakat Sikdar, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's nephew Shahriar Islam Tuhin, former MP and Partex Group Chairman Abul Hashem, former secretary Ismail Zabiullah, owner of Uttara Group Giridhari Lal Modi and former National Board of Revenue member ATM Sarwar Hossain. Excepting former Law Minister Maudud, the names of remaining 12 individuals appeared on the second list published in the newspapers on March 8.
The ACC chairman said the third list has already been published and the number of lists would increase. Responding to a query about the number, he said, "This is a continuous processâ€¦The number will be in its hundreds."
All the names on the third list could not be known.
But, talking to the news agency, a well-placed source hinted that the third list might include the names of AL general secretary Abdul Jalil, former State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar, former minister and AL presidium member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim and former FBCCI president and business magnate Abdul Awal Mintoo.
"The ACC is working on the list and a file is pending with the Commission for approval to issue notices to some of the corrupt suspects of the third list to submit wealth statements," the source said.
Meanwhile, the Commission Thursday rewarded 10 of its employees for good work in two cases against Giasuddin Al Mamun and Amanullah Aman and Sabera Aman. All the three accused individuals have been convicted.
Those rewarded with cash ranging from Tk 5,000 to 30,000 are assistant director Akhter Hamid Bhuiyan and assistant inspector Mahbubur Rahman (for the case against Mamun), directors Fakir Firoj Ahmed, Nasreen Ara Surat Amin and Zakir Hossain, deputy directors Abdullah Al Zahid and Jibon Krishna Roy, field officer Zakir Hossain, upper division clerk Abdul Khaleque and office assistant Rafiqul Islam.
About rewarding the ACC personnel, Mashhud said that this perk is to encourage others to do good work, as the Commission has a policy in this regard.
Appreciating the job done by the officials (in the cases), he said the main thing is that cases would have to be won.
Meanwhile, in another development, the ACC issued notice to Sitara Alamgir, wife of AL presidium member and ex-state minister MK Alamgir, for submitting wealth statement within seven working days.
A source said the separate letter has been issued for Sitara, as Alamgir, in his statement, did not mention the wealth possessed by his wife, who is a former government official.
The notice was hung in front of the Alamgir's residence in Banani, as no one was available to receive the summons.
The source also said the ACC is also contemplating issuing notices to two sons of the AL presidium member, who live abroad. Alamgir did not provide details of the wealth owned by his sons. The notices would be served through Bangladesh embassies.