ACC summons Rupali Bank MD, Westmont chairman

The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) on Monday summoned the managing director of Rupali Bank and the chairman of Westmont Power (Bangladesh) Limited to face its grilling in connection with a loan scam. ACC investigation officer and deputy director Mir Zainul Abedin Shebly sent separate notices to former general manger of Janata Bank (now managing director of Rupali Bank) M Faird Uddin and chairman of Westmont Power (Bangladesh) Limited Kazi Tajul Islam Faruque asking them to be present at the ACC head office at 11 am on December 22. ACC sources said the Westmont Power (Bangladesh) Limited in 2002 took a loan of Tk 790 million (US $12.96 million) from Janata Bank local office to import machinery. But, the company did not import any machinery and siphoned off the money aboard. On April 12, 2011, the ACC filed a case against the Westmont Power (Bangladesh) Limited and its chairman Kazi Tajul Islam, former first assistant general manager Rafiqul Haque Chowdhury and five foreign nationals, according to a news agency.