8 ex-ministers to be quizzed about Khaleda's graft case

FE Team | Published: September 24, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

Eight former ministers of the previous BNP-led alliance government, including Saifur Rahman, Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and Motiur Rahman Nizami, would be quizzed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) regarding the container handling graft case filed against former premier Khaleda Zia on September 2, reports UNB.
Six of them have already been directed to come to the ACC's Segunbagicha central office at 11 am Tuesday (September 25).
All these former ministers were the members of the purchase committee that approved the container-handling deal awarded to a particular company.
"Those who were the members of the purchase committee, including eight (former) cabinet ministers, have been issued notices (by the Commission). (Of the eight) two former ministers are already in jail and the remaining six have been asked to come (to the ACC office) at 11 am on September 25 (Tuesday)," ACC secretary Mokhles ur Rahman told reporters.
Without mentioning names of the eight individuals, he said as per the expectation of the investigation officer they have been issued notices because it is an important case of the state and its financial aspect is involved in it.
According to sources, the former ministers going to be quizzed are former Finance Minister Saifur Rahman, former LGRD Minister and expelled BNP secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, former Industries Minister Motiur Rahman Nizami, former Information Minister Shamsul Islam, former Agriculture Minister MK Anwar, former Health Minister Khandaker Mosharaf Hossain and former State Minister for Energy AKM Mosharraf Hossain.
Apart from Mosharraf and AKM Mosharraf, who are in jail, all the other individuals have been directed to appear before the Commission in person.
The sources said Mosharraf and AKM Mosharraf would be quizzed at the prison gate with permission from the court for which an application has already been lodged with the court.
On September 2, ACC deputy director Golam Shahriar Chowdhury filed the case against BNP Chairperson Khaleda, her younger son Arafat Rahman Koko and 11 others for alleged irregularities in awarding the
contract to a particular company for container handling.
Following the case, former PM Khaleda and her son Koko were arrested from their cantonment residence. Later, the Anti-graft watchdog decided to bring the case under the Emergency Power Rules 2007 meaning that no one of the accused would get bail.
Meanwhile, the ACC secretary Mokhles, speaking to reporters, said the Commission has issued notice to one of its officials, assistant director Abu Bakar Siddique, to submit his wealth statement within seven working days.
He said the Commission thinks that the ACC official has assets, including more than one plots in the capital, which are beyond his known sources of income.