Bhuiyan, BBA engr arrested in Padma graft conspiracy case
Thursday, 27 December 2012
FE Report
A former secretary to the government and an engineer were arrested on Wednesday by the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) for their alleged involvement in the 'corruption conspiracy' in the Padma Bridge project.
Officers of the ACC and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) made the arrest at about 1:50pm as they came out of the High Court after making a futile bid to secure an anticipatory bail in the case.
The detainees were former Bridge Division secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan and Superintending Engineer (river engineering) of Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) Kazi Mohammad Ferdous.
Their arrests came nine days after the commission lodged cases against seven people excluding former Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain.
Bhuiyan and Kazi Ferdous were made convener and member secretary respectively of the latest evaluation committee for appointing a construction supervision consultant for the scheme.
According to the FIR filed with Banani Police Station, the committee was formed violating the Consulting Service Manual-2006 of the World Bank (WB).
"The manual allows selection of individuals as members who have at least 10 years of experience in the relevant field. But the committee was formed with members who lacked enough experience regarding the issue," the FIR stated.
Confirming the detention, ACC Commissioner Mohammad Shahabuddin told the FE that the investigation team would produce the arrested persons before the lower court today (Thursday).
"Through the latest arrest, we've proved that the ACC is in action," he said, adding that drives are on to nab other absconding accused in the Padma graft plot.
A senior ACC official involved in investigation into the corruption conspiracy said they had intelligence report that the duo stayed adjacent to the High Court area that has prompted them to conduct a drive there.
"And both of them have finally been arrested," he said, adding that they have already stepped up their efforts, including intelligence activities, to hunt five other fugitives since the case was filed on December 17 last.
The arrested duo was later taken to custody of Dhanmondi Police Station after nearly four-hour-long interrogation at the ACC headquarters at Segunbagicha in the city.
Earlier on Wednesday last, Mosharraf and Kazi Ferdous appeared before a High Court bench seeking anticipatory bail in the case.
But rejecting their bail petitions, the vacation bench of HC comprising Justice Kazi Md Rezaul Haque and Justice Kazi Md Ezharul Haque Akondo asked them to submit the petitions to a regular HC bench after the vacation.
The court will reopen on January 2 next year.
The anti-graft watchdog has been carrying out special drives immediately after the commission filed a case against seven persons for their links with an alleged plot for favouring Canadian consultancy firm, SNC Lavalin, to get the supervision works for constructing the 6.1 kilometre-long bridge over the Padma river.
The other accused are: Executive Engineer of Roads and Highways Department Reaz Ahmed Zaber, Deputy Managing Director of Engineering and Planning Consultant, a local agent of Canadian firm SNC Lavalin, Mohammad Mostofa and SNC Lavalin officials Mohammad Ismail, Ramesh Shah and Kevin Wales.
The ACC officials also believe that the latest arrests will help start the investigation process, which is a key thing to frame charge against the graft suspects in the case.
The funding for the mega scheme largely depends on the success in dealing with the allegation of corruption conspiracy as the World Bank, the major financier of the project (US$ 1.2 billion) recently said they would finance it after a fair and impartial move by the ACC.
The global lender in June last suspended its loan deal with the government for the US$2.9 billion project, saying that it has credible evidence of graft conspiracy in the process of appointing consultant.
Later, in September last, the Washington-based lender agreed to revive the agreement on several terms and conditions.
A former secretary to the government and an engineer were arrested on Wednesday by the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) for their alleged involvement in the 'corruption conspiracy' in the Padma Bridge project.
Officers of the ACC and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) made the arrest at about 1:50pm as they came out of the High Court after making a futile bid to secure an anticipatory bail in the case.
The detainees were former Bridge Division secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan and Superintending Engineer (river engineering) of Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) Kazi Mohammad Ferdous.
Their arrests came nine days after the commission lodged cases against seven people excluding former Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain.
Bhuiyan and Kazi Ferdous were made convener and member secretary respectively of the latest evaluation committee for appointing a construction supervision consultant for the scheme.
According to the FIR filed with Banani Police Station, the committee was formed violating the Consulting Service Manual-2006 of the World Bank (WB).
"The manual allows selection of individuals as members who have at least 10 years of experience in the relevant field. But the committee was formed with members who lacked enough experience regarding the issue," the FIR stated.
Confirming the detention, ACC Commissioner Mohammad Shahabuddin told the FE that the investigation team would produce the arrested persons before the lower court today (Thursday).
"Through the latest arrest, we've proved that the ACC is in action," he said, adding that drives are on to nab other absconding accused in the Padma graft plot.
A senior ACC official involved in investigation into the corruption conspiracy said they had intelligence report that the duo stayed adjacent to the High Court area that has prompted them to conduct a drive there.
"And both of them have finally been arrested," he said, adding that they have already stepped up their efforts, including intelligence activities, to hunt five other fugitives since the case was filed on December 17 last.
The arrested duo was later taken to custody of Dhanmondi Police Station after nearly four-hour-long interrogation at the ACC headquarters at Segunbagicha in the city.
Earlier on Wednesday last, Mosharraf and Kazi Ferdous appeared before a High Court bench seeking anticipatory bail in the case.
But rejecting their bail petitions, the vacation bench of HC comprising Justice Kazi Md Rezaul Haque and Justice Kazi Md Ezharul Haque Akondo asked them to submit the petitions to a regular HC bench after the vacation.
The court will reopen on January 2 next year.
The anti-graft watchdog has been carrying out special drives immediately after the commission filed a case against seven persons for their links with an alleged plot for favouring Canadian consultancy firm, SNC Lavalin, to get the supervision works for constructing the 6.1 kilometre-long bridge over the Padma river.
The other accused are: Executive Engineer of Roads and Highways Department Reaz Ahmed Zaber, Deputy Managing Director of Engineering and Planning Consultant, a local agent of Canadian firm SNC Lavalin, Mohammad Mostofa and SNC Lavalin officials Mohammad Ismail, Ramesh Shah and Kevin Wales.
The ACC officials also believe that the latest arrests will help start the investigation process, which is a key thing to frame charge against the graft suspects in the case.
The funding for the mega scheme largely depends on the success in dealing with the allegation of corruption conspiracy as the World Bank, the major financier of the project (US$ 1.2 billion) recently said they would finance it after a fair and impartial move by the ACC.
The global lender in June last suspended its loan deal with the government for the US$2.9 billion project, saying that it has credible evidence of graft conspiracy in the process of appointing consultant.
Later, in September last, the Washington-based lender agreed to revive the agreement on several terms and conditions.