More spl courts to be set up to deal with graft cases

FE Team | Published: September 25, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

The government has decided to increase the number of special courts in Dhaka from existing five for quick disposal of graft cases, reports BSS.
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Secretary Mokhles-ur-Rahman Monday said, the government has felt the necessity to raise the number of the courts considering the increased number of cases ready for trial.
He said, four to five new special courts would be set up in Dhaka immediately, as it becomes difficult for the existing courts to deal with the present volume of work.
Replying to a question, the ACC secretary said, eight former ministers were asked to appear before the investigation officer (IO) of the graft case against former prime minister Khaleda Zia as part of investigation.
He said, as per law the authorised officer of the ACC can interrogate any person in any case and seek any information from any person or organisation in the interest of proper investigation.
He hoped that the former ministers would appear before the IO of the case and tell him about their role as member of the Procurement Committee.
"The ACC Act has been promulgated by an elected government, and everything is mentioned in the law," he said, adding the commission will proceed as per rules if anybody does not respond to the ACC notice.
About press reports that a number of former ministers did not get the notice, the ACC secretary said, "As far as I know they have received the notices, and our service return also supports it."
Meanwhile, Assistant Director of ACC Mahbubul Alam filed an FIR against former lawmaker and Awami League leader Haji Selim and his wife Gulshan Ara with Lalbagh Thana on charge of acquiring illegal wealth and hiding information of wealth worth about Tk 87.0 million (8.70 crore) in his wealth statement submitted to the commission.