ACC resumes probe into Padma Bridge graft case

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has resumed probe into the much-talked-about Padma Bridge graft conspiracy after collecting necessary information from Canada.   
The graft allegation case came to a halt due to non- availability of some crucial evidences from Canadian authorities.
ACC Chairman M Badiuzzaman told the FE that they would sit soon to decide further proceedings on the investigation which they want to complete shortly.
"As it has already been late to complete the inquiry, we will try to accomplish it as soon as possible," he said.
The anti-graft body Commissioner M Sahabuddin claimed last week that the Commission has found adequate documents related to the graft conspiracy and the Commission would complete the investigation within a very short time. "We have received very crucial information from Canada through formal channel," he said.
The Commissioner said now the ACC would finish the inquiry and submit the charge sheet to the court soon.
Mr Sahabuddin, however, declined to disclose what kinds of documents they collected from Canada on the ground of legal cause.
After submission of a partial probe report in March, 2013, no visible headway could be made in the investigation into the Padma Bridge graft conspiracy case until now due to failure of collection of some documents from Canada.
The ACC chief said the Commission sent a team to Canada twice to collect necessary information about the graft conspiracy. But, the team failed to get the info related to the case.
There are now two key challenges before the ACC authority to finish the investigation into the case. These relate to seizure of Ramesh Shah's diary where he allegedly wrote down the percentage of money they offered to Bangladesh officials to secure the contract, and interrogation of the three Canadian nationals who were the SNC-Lavanin officials allegedly linked to the graft conspiracy.
They are: SNC-Lavalin's former vice-president Kevin Wallace, former vice-president (international project) Ramesh Shah, and former director (international project) Mohammad Ismail.
On December 17, 2012, the ACC filed a case against seven persons for their alleged involvement in the Padma Bridge project graft conspiracy dropping the names of key suspects, namely, former Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain and former State Minister for Foreign Affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury.
A trail has also been proceeding in a Canadian court on the same allegation. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has already charged Abul Hasan Chowdhury.
The RCMP also brought charges against Canadian citizen Zulfiquar Ali Bhuiyan and former vice president (international project division) of SNC Lavalin Kevin Wallace.
The accused in the ACC case are former Secretary of the Bridge Division Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, superintending engineer (river control) of the Bangladesh Bridge Authority Kazi M Ferdous, executive engineer (bridge construction and maintenance) of the Roads and Highways Department M Riaz Ahmed Zaber, deputy managing director of the Engineer and Planning Consultant Limited Mohammad Mustafa, former director (international project division) of SNC Lavalin Inc Mohammad Ismail, former vice president (international project division) of SNC Lavalin Ramesh Shah and former vice-president of SNC Lavalin Kevin Wallace.
On March 3 last, the four-member inquiry team of the ACC, led by its deputy director Mirza Zahidul Alam, submitted the partial report on the investigation to the Commission and accused seven persons of being involved in the graft conspiracy. The report also said, without getting information from the Canadian court, it is not possible for them to complete the inquiry.
ACC sources said the two officials of SNC-Lavalin Ramesh Shah and Mohammad Ismail were accused of trying to bribe Bangladeshi officials to secure contracts for supervision and construction of the Padma Bridge and an elevated expressway in Dhaka.
The alleged graft conspiracy prompted the World Bank to suspend a $1.2 billion loan for the country's Padma Bridge Project. Later, the Asian Development Bank and JICA, two other co-financers, also pulled out of the project.