Primary inquiries find nothing against Khaleda

FE Team | Published: October 26, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

Primary inquiries of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) found nothing to prove allegations of corruption against detained former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia involving Magurchara gas-field and Occidental Oil and Gas Corporation, and lease of Phulbari coal-mine to Asia Energy, reports UNB.
"The inquiry officer mentioned in his report that no information was found in the primary inquiry to prove the allegations against Khaleda Zia about Magurchara gas-field and Occidental Oil and Gas Corporation," ACC Secretary Mokhlesur Rahman said during the Commission's regular briefing Thursday afternoon.
Similarly, he said, another report by inquiry officer Farid Uddin Ahmed mentioned that no information was found in the primary inquiry to prove the allegation against her about the lease of Phulbari coal-mine to Asia Energy.
Asked what were the allegations against Khaleda, Mokhles said, he would have to look at the files before he could specify the allegations.
There is no merit for the time being to file first information reports, as necessary evidence and proofs were not found, he said, adding that therefore, the inquiries have been suspended.
The issue of compensation for the Magurchhara blowout was inquired, he added.
On allegation of impropriety about the lease of Phulbari coal-mine, the ACC secretary said, the agreement is still under process.
Facing a volley of questions from the reporters, who suggested that agreements have already been signed, he did not provide any clear answer.
Replying to a query, Mokhles said, although primary inquiries officially began on 11 of the ACC's list of 35 suspected corrupts, informal inquiries were going on about all of them.
Asked if the ACC is involved with the search in the residences of some of the graft suspects, he said, ACC is not working alone, rather the taskforces are the combination of many government agencies.
Replying to a query, Mokhles acknowledged that the ACC chairman went to the Chief Adviser Thursday to discuss the autonomy of the Commission.
He said, at present, any change or recruitment process in ACC involve the Advisory Council, Head of the Government, Law Ministry, etc, which is lengthy. Given the autonomy, he said, these could be done easily, and the organisation would run in a better way.