The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) raided Dhaka Palli Bidyut Samity (PBS)-2 office in Nawabganj and Dhaka PBS-4 office in Keraniganj on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively over allegations of graft, irregularities and active presence of brokers.
The drives were conducted two days in a row, following complaints received through ACC Hotline 106, according to a statement of the anti-graft watchdog.
During the drives, ACC teams observed that the PBS officials do not provide any new connection or issue electric meter without consulting with brokers, who control all file works.
The ACC officials of the teams, disguising themselves as service recipients, caught two brokers red-handed and produced them to the mobile court.
The commission also identified four officials of general manager and deputy general manager-level of the two PBSs, who have created a nexus with the brokers.
Talking about the drives, ACC director general (admin) Muhammad Munir Chowdhury said, "Legal measures will be taken against the PBS officials involved in graft."
Meanwhile, on the day, the commission launched an investigation against two persons over their alleged accumulation of illegal wealth by grabbing 20 acres of hilly forest land in Cox's Bazar.
A syndicate of powerful land-grabbers, led by Nawshad Hossain and Azad Hasan, has been preparing and selling plots by cutting down hills in different areas of Cox's Bazar, which are enlisted as government 'khas' land.
Being informed, the commission conducted multiple drives from January 29 to February 05 to recover around 20 acres of land in Faterghona area near Kolatoli Bypass Road and Nuru Saudagarer Ghona adjacent to Cox's Bazar city.
ACC enforcement team found that the land-grabbing syndicate has been cutting down hills by bribing the government officials and local influential quarters.
The syndicate collected around Tk 120 million by selling a number of plots to different people in phases.
About the drives, Mr Munir Chowdhury said grabbing the government land and selling it to others is considered graft as per Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2004.
ACC also collected information about accumulation of illegal wealth by the hill-cutters and filed cases against them to seize their illegal wealth, he also said.
Mentioning that ACC is determined to stop accumulating illegal wealth by destroying the environment, the ACC DG added initiatives will be taken to give the hills their previous look by land filling and tree plantation.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
