ACC sues ex-DESCO MD, chief engineer

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Monday filed two cases against former Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited (DESCO) managing director Md Kawsar Amir Ali and chief engineer Shamim Ahsan Chowdhury for causing a loss of about Tk 748.3 million to the state through abuse of power and corruption.

According to the ACC, the loss was incurred after DESCO constructed a separate data centre in violation of government directives.

The information was disclosed on Sunday by ACC Deputy Director (Public Relations) Md Akhtarul Islam.

The cases were filed under sections 409 and 109 of the Penal Code, and section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.

As per the case statements, the accused misused their official authority and acted in collusion to defy instructions issued by the Cabinet Division.

Under existing government rules, no ministry, division or state-owned organisation is allowed to establish its own data centre without prior approval.

The ACC investigation found that a meeting chaired by the Cabinet Secretary on December 17, 2020, decided that data of all government organisations would be hosted through the Bangladesh Data Center Company Limited (BDCCL).

The decision was later reiterated through an official notification issued by the ICT Division on January 24, 2021.

Despite these directives, DESCO proceeded to take steps to set up a separate data centre.

tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com