Constitute commission to identify plotters: HC

The High Court on Tuesday ordered the authorities concerned to form a commission to identify the real conspirators who made up the stories of corruption in order to hinder the Padma Bridge project.
The authorities concerned have been asked to form the commission within next 30 days and the commission has been asked to submit an investigation report in this regard to the court within two months.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo passed the order after hearing a five-year-old rule on the matter and set August 28, 2022 for passing further order on the issue.
Deputy Attorney General A K M Amin Uddin Manik represented the state while lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan stood for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) during the hearing.
Later, state lawyer Mr Manik said, "Although the respondents have been directed to form the commission, the cabinet secretary, who is the main respondent, will play a vital role in forming the commission. Respondents have been asked to form the commission within one month and the commission has been asked to submit an investigation report within two months."
The World Bank signed an agreement to finance the Padma Bridge, the largest infrastructure project of Bangladesh, but later cancelled its credit for the project, raising corruption allegation. After that Bangladesh implemented this project with its own funds.
The HC bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Mohammad Ullah on February 15, 2017 issued a suo moto (voluntary) rule, asking the government to explain in four weeks as to why they should not be directed to form an inquiry commission to identify the "real culprits who conspired against the nation by making up stories of corruption" in the Padma Bridge project.
It also wanted to know as to why the respondents should not be directed to bring those who were behind such stories to justice.
The state lawyer recently placed the matter to the new HC bench for hearing. After hearing on the rule, the High Court bench passed the order on Tuesday.

bikashju@gmail.com