ACC briefing 'motivated,' alleges BNP
Saturday, 20 December 2008
BNP Joint Secretary General Nazrul Islam Khan Friday termed the Anti-Corruption Commission's (ACC) press briefing on Arafat Rahman Koko's financial transactions in Singapore as 'motivated,' reports UNB.
"The ACC's briefing was biased and motivated as it was done before inquiry," he told reporters at the Gulshan office of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Khan alleged that the ACC has been curbing BNP in the name of curbing corruption. "The ACC's briefing on Koko's alleged money is part of that."
"The ACC even didn't authenticate the allegation," he said adding that ACC Director General Col Hanif Iqbal who briefed the press did not answer to many questions from reporters.
Khan said the ACC move was to turn around the mass tide already created in favour of "sheaf of paddy," the election symbol of BNP. It was also designed to create an opportunity for BNP's political opponents.
He urged the ACC and the caretaker government to refrain from any political stunt.
Referring to Sheikh Hasina and HM Ershad's comments against BNP during the campaign, Khan urged the leaders not to make bitter comments which are violation of the election code of conduct. He hoped the Election Commission will take note of it.
On Thursday, Col Iqbal told reporters that the transactions (made by Koko) are under inquiry and the inquiry officer has been appointed. He said the ACC decided to initiate legal process about details of transactions in Singapore about which information received from Singaporean authorities.
Col Iqbal said the Commission would also look into Koko's transactions of S$ 2,061,093 and US$ 261,477 equivalent to some Tk 11.6 crore (116 million), the amount temporarily frozen by authorities in Singapore.
"The ACC's briefing was biased and motivated as it was done before inquiry," he told reporters at the Gulshan office of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Khan alleged that the ACC has been curbing BNP in the name of curbing corruption. "The ACC's briefing on Koko's alleged money is part of that."
"The ACC even didn't authenticate the allegation," he said adding that ACC Director General Col Hanif Iqbal who briefed the press did not answer to many questions from reporters.
Khan said the ACC move was to turn around the mass tide already created in favour of "sheaf of paddy," the election symbol of BNP. It was also designed to create an opportunity for BNP's political opponents.
He urged the ACC and the caretaker government to refrain from any political stunt.
Referring to Sheikh Hasina and HM Ershad's comments against BNP during the campaign, Khan urged the leaders not to make bitter comments which are violation of the election code of conduct. He hoped the Election Commission will take note of it.
On Thursday, Col Iqbal told reporters that the transactions (made by Koko) are under inquiry and the inquiry officer has been appointed. He said the ACC decided to initiate legal process about details of transactions in Singapore about which information received from Singaporean authorities.
Col Iqbal said the Commission would also look into Koko's transactions of S$ 2,061,093 and US$ 261,477 equivalent to some Tk 11.6 crore (116 million), the amount temporarily frozen by authorities in Singapore.