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Legal action if doctors asked to vacate homes: ACC chief

FE REPORT | April 17, 2020 00:00:00


Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Iqbal Mahmood on Thursday warned landlords of taking legal action if they tell doctors and health workers to vacate their homes.

"If any landlord tells or forces health professionals to leave their houses, the commission will dig into sources of finance for constructing the buildings," he said.

"The anti-graft agency will take legal action as per its jurisdiction if illegal income source of house owners is found," ACC boss told journalists responding to a question.

In last couple of days, several media reported that some landlords in different areas are telling tenants, mainly health workers in profession, to vacate their buildings fearing transmission of coronavirus through the health workers.

Mr Mahmood said in the time of national crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic, doctors, nurses, hospital attendants and other health workers have dedicated their lives to serve the nation.

"Misbehaving and dishonouring the health professionals is a form of legal offence; as far I recall, such behaviours are punishable offence according to the Communicable Diseases Act, 2018," he added.

He said if anyone violates the act, relevant law enforcement agencies will take punitive measures against the individuals.

Besides, responding to another query about the ACC's move to monitor relief works and open market sale (OMS), he said charge sheet of the cases against the people who embezzled government relief will be submitted in shortest possible time.

Despite the Commission's warning of taking stern action against the incidents of relief embezzlement, some people couldn't contain their greed, he said adding: "The ACC is informed about irregularities in making list of beneficiaries, storing relief goods in unauthorised places and misappropriation of those goods."

The anti-graft agency has found evidence of four embezzlement incidents so far in three districts Dhaka, Manikganj, and Bogura, he said.

The ACC Chairman also said the Commission has already instructed its officials to complete investigation into those cases as early as possible.

ahb_mcj2009@yahoo.com


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