Canadian investigators quiz Mahmudur Rahman

Canadian investigators have quizzed former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s energy adviser Mahmudur Rahman in connection with a corruption case involving Canadian oil and gas company Niko Resources. Mahmudur Rahman is acting Editor of Amar Desh newspaper and now in jail over several cases including one for cyber crimes. He was questioned at Dhaka’s Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court on Sunday. Court prison OC Murad Hossain said that six members of Canadian investigation agency quizzed him in presence of Metropolitan Magistrate Rezaul Islam from 3:00pm to 4:00pm. There were allegations that state minister for energy in Khaleda Zia’s cabinet AKM Mosharraf Hossain received bribes from Niko following the Tengratila gas-field blowout in January, 2005. He quit on June 18 that year amid widespread criticism. Mahmudur Rahman’s lawyer Belal Hossain Jasim said the accused in the case filed with Tejgaon Police Station on December 9, 2007, are former state minister Mosharraf Hossain, Khaleda Zia, BNP leader Moudud Ahmed, Niko Resources (Bangladesh) ex-president Kashem Sharif and former energy secretary Khandaker Shahidul Islam. He said the Canadian investigators had come to Dhaka to ‘get some information’ from Mahmudur Rahman as he was the energy advisor to Khaleda when the bribes allegedly were exchanged, according to bdnews24.com.