12 former ministers, MPs took Tk 32 cr extortion money

Twelve former government ministers and Members of Parliament (MPs) belonging to different political parties collected toll worth over Tk 32 crore from different construction firms, projects and business organisations during the last one-decade.

Highly placed source informed The New Nation that those accused of collecting toll include, former minister for health and family panning Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, former communications minister Barrister Nazmul Huda, former state minister for communications Salah Uddin Ahmed, former health minister Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, former state minister for planning Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, former MP Mosaddeq Ali Falu, former state minister for civil aviation and tourism Meer Nasir Uddin, former MP Sheikh Helal, former state minister for expatriate welfare and overseas employment Maj (Retd) Quamrul Islam, former MP Prof Shahidul Islam, former minister for water resources Abdur Razzak and former MP Tajul Islam.

Of them, Barrister Nazmul Huda collected the highest amount of Tk 17,55,50,000 from 21 projects as extortion. He received Tk 50,00,000 from Abdul Monem Ltd under the Urban Transport Project while Tk 1,00,00,000 from Jamuna Bridge Access Roads (Kaliakoir bypass), Tk 10,00,000 from Moniko Ltd under Construction of Second Shitalakha Bridge project, Tk 3,00,000 from Periodic Maintenance project and Tk 50,00,000 from Corolla Corporation under its two projects.

The former communication minister, now in jail on charge of corruption, also collected extortion money of Tk 28,00,000 from BDCL under RRMP-III project, Tk 25,00,000 from Khulna-bypass under Rupsa Bridge project, Tk 1,00,00,000 from Reza Construction, Tk 70,00,000 under PMP-2002 project, Tk 10,00,000 under Road Construction, Mymensingh project, Tk 25,00,000 from RCL JV for Bhairab O&Q project, Tk 5,00,000 from Khulna Bypass Road project, Tk 55,00,000 from different sectors, Tk 10,00,000 from Kumarkhali-Kustia Farry Road, Tk 7,00,000 from Pabna-Pakshi Road project, Tk 15,00,000 Paturia Road and Tk 10,00,000 from Noli Earth-Dhaka Zone project, Tk 50,00,000 from Muniganj Bridge project and Tk 15,00,000 from Khurshid Mohal Bridge project.

Nazmul Huda also collected Tk 3,00,00,000 from Third Karnophuli Bridge project and Tk 8,17,50,000 from Meer Akhtar Hossain Ltd as extortion.

According to sources, Salah Uddin Ahmed collected a total of Tk 3,19,35,000 from three projects. The projects are-Jamuna Bridge Access Road, PMP 2005/2006 project and DFID Supported Flood Damage Restoration project.

Former MP Mosaddeq Ali Falu received extortion money amounting to Tk 3,10,00,000 from two projects only. The projects are-Construction of Grider Bridge Over Daleshwari River and Jamuna Bridge Access Roads.

Meer Nasir Uddin allegedly received Tk 2,47,42,000 from two projects. The projects are-Development of Osmani International Airport, Sylhet and Construction of Terminal Building of Osmani International Airport, Sylhet. Sheikh Helal collected Tk 1,14,90,000 from Periodical Maintenance Programme 2001.

Besides, the amount of extortion money collected by Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain from 6 projects stood Tk 1,65,00,000 while former MP Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim received Tk 1,40,00,000 from Al-Amin Construction Ltd under Miniganj Bridge project, Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir Tk 1,00,00,000 from Abdul Monem Ltd under the Jamuna Bridge Access Road project, Maj (Retd) Quamrul Islam Tk 70,00,000 from Design and Construction of Housing Complex and Prof Shahidul Islam Tk 20,00,000 from Abdul Monem Ltd under Paksey Bridge Construction project, Abdur Razzak Tk 10,00,000 from Meer Akhter Hossain Ltd and Tajul Islam Tk 5,00,000 from Tajul Islam Chowdhury under Dharala Bridge project.

Mentionable that most of the accused former ministers and MPs are now in different jails on various corrupt charges.