ACC finds Tk 290m irregularities in two RHD projects
Friday, 25 July 2008
The Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) has unearthed gross corruption and irregularities in two road projects implemented by the Roads and Highways Department (RHD).
A special ACC team constituted to look into corruption in the RHD has so far found out about Tk 290 million having been misappropriated in two projects, where roads looked ruptured in no time after their construction.
ACC Director General (admin) Colonel Hanif Iqbal disclosed the figure while briefing newsmen at the Commission's regular press briefing in the city Thursday, reports UNB.
The projects are Bonpara-Hatikamrul Toll Road on the Jamuna Bridge Highway in the northwestern region of the country and Dhaka Bypass Road under Gazipur, Dhaka and Narayanganj districts.
The 55-kilometre-long Bonpara-Hatikamrul road was constructed between December 1, 1998 and December 31, 2002 at a cost of Tk 3.10 billion.
The World Bank financed the construction of the road intended to ease road communications to greater Rajshahi and Kushthia districts crossing over the multipurpose bridge over the mighty river Jamuna that had cut Bangladesh into two for time immemorial.
The special team so far has discovered that contractors and supervising individuals in connivance with each other have misappropriated about Tk 250 million.
Upon completion of the investigation by the team, actual amount of money and involved persons would be detected and initiative would be taken for legal actions against those involved in corruption and irregularities, the journalists were told.
About Dhaka Bypass Road, the 48-kilometre project covering Gazipur, Dhaka and Narayanganj districts, was implemented between 1997 and 2006 at a cost of Tk 2.90 billion.
The team has so far estimated that the contractors in connivance with the RHD officials have misappropriated about Tk 40 million.
Responding to a question, Mr Hanif told the briefing that, hopefully, cases would be filed "very soon" against those involved in the wrongdoing.
Asked if any minister of that period was involved, Mr Hanif said, "I would not name any names at this stage. Names will come out after the completion of the investigation."
In reply to a query, he said where necessary, the special ACC probe team used neutral specialists to carry out their investigations.
A special ACC team constituted to look into corruption in the RHD has so far found out about Tk 290 million having been misappropriated in two projects, where roads looked ruptured in no time after their construction.
ACC Director General (admin) Colonel Hanif Iqbal disclosed the figure while briefing newsmen at the Commission's regular press briefing in the city Thursday, reports UNB.
The projects are Bonpara-Hatikamrul Toll Road on the Jamuna Bridge Highway in the northwestern region of the country and Dhaka Bypass Road under Gazipur, Dhaka and Narayanganj districts.
The 55-kilometre-long Bonpara-Hatikamrul road was constructed between December 1, 1998 and December 31, 2002 at a cost of Tk 3.10 billion.
The World Bank financed the construction of the road intended to ease road communications to greater Rajshahi and Kushthia districts crossing over the multipurpose bridge over the mighty river Jamuna that had cut Bangladesh into two for time immemorial.
The special team so far has discovered that contractors and supervising individuals in connivance with each other have misappropriated about Tk 250 million.
Upon completion of the investigation by the team, actual amount of money and involved persons would be detected and initiative would be taken for legal actions against those involved in corruption and irregularities, the journalists were told.
About Dhaka Bypass Road, the 48-kilometre project covering Gazipur, Dhaka and Narayanganj districts, was implemented between 1997 and 2006 at a cost of Tk 2.90 billion.
The team has so far estimated that the contractors in connivance with the RHD officials have misappropriated about Tk 40 million.
Responding to a question, Mr Hanif told the briefing that, hopefully, cases would be filed "very soon" against those involved in the wrongdoing.
Asked if any minister of that period was involved, Mr Hanif said, "I would not name any names at this stage. Names will come out after the completion of the investigation."
In reply to a query, he said where necessary, the special ACC probe team used neutral specialists to carry out their investigations.