Complaint against Gen Mashhud 'baseless'

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The internal enquiry committee of the Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) termed the complaint against the ACC Chief Gen Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury baseless and motivated, reports UNB.
Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's Adviser Mahmudur Rahman made a complaint against the ACC chairman of misappropriating Tk 224.1 million through money laundering.
The committee, comprising two commissioners - Habibur Rahman and Abdul Hasan Manjur Mannan - decided to close the matter of the sought-for prosecution against the top dog of the watchdog body that had prosecuted many a top brass of society on graft charges during the past purge under the emergency rule.
"Having reviewed all the records, no evidence of involvement of ex-Trust Bank chairman Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdury in misappropriation or causing loss of bank's Tk 22,41,71,140 in 2002-2003 fiscal year was found," says the probe report.
"Therefore, since the complaint appeared to be baseless and motivated, Mahmudur Rahman's complaint was put in files," added the report that was made available to reporters Thursday.
On October 26, 2008, Mahmudur Rahman, now chairman of Amar Desh Publications Ltd, tried to file a case with two police stations against the ACC chairman accusing him of misappropriating the said amount through money laundering when the former army chief (Mashhud) was chairman of the Trust Bank.
On police refusal to accept the case, an unrelenting Mahmud sent the complaint by registered post to the ACC on October 27, 2008. The ACC received the complaint on October 29.
At a press briefing on October 27, the ACC chairman vehemently denied having committed any such wrongdoing.
On November 5, 2008, the anti-graft watchdog referred the complaint to the then caretaker government for disposal.