Gold crest \\\'fraud\\\' probe on

A parliamentary committee will investigate allegations of less gold being used in the crests to honour foreign friends of Bangladesh’s Liberation War. A three-strong sub-committee has been formed at a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee for the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs. Md Afsarul Amin will lead the investigating panel, the Parliament Secretariat has said in a media statement. Nearly 250 foreign nationals were awarded crests, shawls and certificates in seven phases last year for their contribution to Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan in 1971. A national daily in a report on April 6 said the crests had lesser gold than standard. It also said brass, copper and zinc alloy were used instead of silver. Independent MP Rustom Ali Farazi brought it up in Parliament on Apr 8 and demanded the matter be probed independently, according to bdnews24.com.