Ex-Bridges Div secy Mosharraf suspended

Former Bridges Division secretary M Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, now in jail, was suspended Wednesday for his alleged involvement in the Padma Bridge corruption conspiracy, reports UNB. The government has issued an order to that end signed by Public Administration Ministry senior secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder. The suspension order took effect from the date of Bhuiyan's arrest on December 26 last year, said the order. On December 26, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) arrested two key accused, including Mosharraf Hossain, in the corruption conspiracy case of the proposed Padma Bridge project. An ACC team, led by its director (Wing Commander) Tahidul Islam, with the help of law-enforcing agencies conducted a drive in Shahbagh area of the city and captured Mosharraf and superintending engineer (river control) of Bangladesh Bridge Authority Kazi M Ferdous on the day. On January 3, a Dhaka court sent Mosharraf and Kazi Ferdous to jail after rejecting their bail prayers in the corruption case. On December 17, the ACC filed another case with Banani Police Station against seven people, including Mosharraf. Mosharraf was made an officer on special duty (OSD) on December 18. Prior to making him OSD, Bhuiyan was sent to leave to fulfill a condition of the World Bank (WB) to revive its funding for the much-hyped project. The WB cancelled its US$1.2 billion funding for the project on June 29 last year, saying it had the proof of a 'corruption conspiracy' involving Bangladeshi officials, executives of the Canadian firm and some individuals.