GATCO scam report by mid-Nov
Thursday, 18 October 2007
The investigation report in the GATCO scam case against former prime minister Khaleda Zia is nearly complete, and the investigating officer (IO) Wednesday said that the file would be placed before the authorities by mid-November, report bdnews24.com and UNB.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has written to the Establishment Ministry Wednesday seeking its cooperation in questioning three ex-bureaucrats of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in connection with the graft case.
Sources said, IO of the case and ACC Deputy Director Zahurul Huda felt the necessity of questioning Dr Kamal Siddiqui along with a former director general and a former director in connection with the case.
But, the Commission could not obtain the permanent addresses of these individuals. So, the IO wrote a letter to the Ministry asking its assistance in finding their addresses.
Besides, being asked by the investigation officer, three bankers provided desired information appearing in person at the Commission.
Huda said, he had taken statements from 65 people during his investigation into the alleged wrongdoing that was brought to light last month. People who were directly linked with the matter will be asked to testify, he also said.
Huda took the testimony of former finance secretary Zakir Ahmed Khan, now serving as Bangladesh's alternate executive director to the World Bank.
"Since Khan is abroad, I quizzed him over the telephone. I received a document of answers from him before Eid. He explained in detail his role as the then finance secretary," he added.
The graft case involves a wrongdoing in awarding contracts to operate two container terminals-one at Kamalapur Railway Station and the other at Chittagong Seaport-during Khaleda's term in 2003.
Khaleda was arrested on September 3, and was accused of misuse of power in awarding the contracts to local company - Global Agro Trade Company (GATCO) - without going through the standard tendering process. She is being held in a makeshift jail inside the parliament complex, pending trial.
Her younger son Arafat Rahman Coco is also an accused in the case along with 11 other people. Coco has been in jail since September 3. Khaleda and Coco were arrested from their Dhaka Cantonment home hours after an ACC official filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station.
On Oct 11, during a second interrogation, Khaleda reportedly claimed innocence in the case. Earlier, Khaleda repeatedly insisted she was innocent, saying the corruption charges were a conspiracy to destroy the image of her family and party.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has written to the Establishment Ministry Wednesday seeking its cooperation in questioning three ex-bureaucrats of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in connection with the graft case.
Sources said, IO of the case and ACC Deputy Director Zahurul Huda felt the necessity of questioning Dr Kamal Siddiqui along with a former director general and a former director in connection with the case.
But, the Commission could not obtain the permanent addresses of these individuals. So, the IO wrote a letter to the Ministry asking its assistance in finding their addresses.
Besides, being asked by the investigation officer, three bankers provided desired information appearing in person at the Commission.
Huda said, he had taken statements from 65 people during his investigation into the alleged wrongdoing that was brought to light last month. People who were directly linked with the matter will be asked to testify, he also said.
Huda took the testimony of former finance secretary Zakir Ahmed Khan, now serving as Bangladesh's alternate executive director to the World Bank.
"Since Khan is abroad, I quizzed him over the telephone. I received a document of answers from him before Eid. He explained in detail his role as the then finance secretary," he added.
The graft case involves a wrongdoing in awarding contracts to operate two container terminals-one at Kamalapur Railway Station and the other at Chittagong Seaport-during Khaleda's term in 2003.
Khaleda was arrested on September 3, and was accused of misuse of power in awarding the contracts to local company - Global Agro Trade Company (GATCO) - without going through the standard tendering process. She is being held in a makeshift jail inside the parliament complex, pending trial.
Her younger son Arafat Rahman Coco is also an accused in the case along with 11 other people. Coco has been in jail since September 3. Khaleda and Coco were arrested from their Dhaka Cantonment home hours after an ACC official filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station.
On Oct 11, during a second interrogation, Khaleda reportedly claimed innocence in the case. Earlier, Khaleda repeatedly insisted she was innocent, saying the corruption charges were a conspiracy to destroy the image of her family and party.