ACC begins inquiry into Khaleda's wealth, waits for court verdict on Hasina's notice

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The Anti-Corruption Commission has begun inquiry into the wealth of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia as it will have to wait for the wealth statement of another former premier Sheikh Hasina until the Appellate Division's verdict in this connection, reports UNB.
"As far as I know, the inquiry (into Khaleda's wealth) has begun…According to the rules, there'll be an inquiry for a month followed by investigations for two months," ACC secretary Mokhles ur Rahman told reporters at his office Tuesday afternoon.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia submitted her wealth statement on August 6 in compliance with the ACC directive.
About the Appellate Division's decision Tuesday upholding the High Court's stay order on the operations of the ACC notice to Awami League President Sheikh Hasina for four weeks, the ACC secretary said the Commission's timeline does not stand anymore with the High Court order.
"The hearing will be held on August 16 before a full bench of the Appellate Division. The task of the Commission is now to take part in the hearing. And, we'll have to wait for the verdict," he said.
Asked if the Appellate Division upholds the stay order, Mokhles said, "We're yet to get the verdict. (Before that) it'll not be right to say anything in 'future tense'."
About the inquiry into the wealth statement submitted by BNP senior joint secretary Tarique Rahman, he said the inquiry has been completed and it is under the process of vetting. "A case will be filed after the approval of the Commission."
On the other hand, a competent source said ACC deputy director Jahirul Huda submitted the inquiry report on Tarique's wealth on July 25, but the Commission is yet to take any decision.
The ACC secretary said it takes one month for inquiry and if there is a considerable gap between the information provided by the corruption suspect and those obtained by the ACC, investigations would go on for two months. After these three months, a case will become ready for trial, subject to the Commission's approval, he said.
About the wealth statement of former National Board of Revenue member
ATM Sarwar Hossain, he said Sarwar's wealth statement is yet to be received by the Commission. "There may be mistakes…If there're mistakes, we'll work recognising the mistakes."
Replying to a question about the organogram, he said the National Implementation Committee on Administrative Reforms (NICAR) would sit on August 19 where it is expected to be approved. "If approved, our six divisional offices and 22 zonal offices will be fully functional."