ACC to create spl cell to probe graft allegations against ministers, MPs

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) will create a special cell, if necessary, to investigate graft allegations against ministers and members of parliament (MPs).
"We have a sub-cell to inquire the special cases. But, if the Commission requires to create a cell to examine the alleged corruption by the ministers and MPs, we will do so," ACC Secretary M Foyzur Rahman Chowdhury told reporters at a briefing of the Commission in the city Monday.
Mr Chowdhury said they will also investigate the sudden increase in wealth of female MPs as the Commission is now investigating the corruption allegations against male ministers and MPs.
"The gender would not be taken into consideration if we find any corruption allegation against female MPs. They would also come under ACC scanner if the Commission finds any graft allegations against them," he said.
The ACC is investigating the alleged amassing of illegal wealth by seven ministers and MPs. They were former health minister Dr Ruhal Haque, state minister for housing and public works Abdul Mannan Khan, and state minister for water resources Mahbubur Rahman, lawmaker of Cox's Bazar-4 Abdur Rahman Badi, MP of Rajshahi-4 Engr Enamul Haq, Aslamul Haque of Dhaka-14 and Abdul Jabbar of Satkhira.
Media reports on massive discrepancies between wealth statements of the ministers and MPs submitted to the Election Commission (EC) ahead of the 10th parliamentary elections and the statements provided prior to the 9th national polls in 2008 have created commotion among the common people.
About the investigation, the ACC secretary said the inquiry is still underway and they are collecting necessary information about it.
"We have almost completed investigation against Abdur Rahman Badi, a running MP, and found his involvement with corruption," he said adding that the other cases would be completed soon.
Meanwhile, the ACC will observe 'Corruption Resistance Week' from March 26 to April 1 for the fourth time to involve all with the movement against corruption.
"The anti-corruption week will be observed like previous years with different events," the ACC secretary said.
The week-long campaign has been designed with various programmes to create awareness among the people, especially the young generation, to curb corruption for overall development of the country, he added.
Mr Chowdhury said the Commission has already taken different measures to give the anti-corruption movement an institutional shape.
The countrywide programmes include bringing out processions, forming human chains, displaying posters, holding seminars, symposiums, cultural events, anti-corruption programmes in the mass media and sending SMS through mobile phone.
The ACC has sent letters to the MPs, editors of different print and electronic media to make separate programmes as part of the observance of corruption resistance week.
ACC Director General Dr Md Shamsul Arefin announced the week-long programmes adding that the city corporations, zila and upazila administration will observe the week with various events.
ACC Public Relations Officer Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya was also present at the press conference.