The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has given the approval to submit charge sheets in more nine corruption cases filed against alleged corrupt politicians, including former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia's parliamentary affairs secretary Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, Awami League leader Dr HBM Iqbal and BNP-backed trade union leader BM Bakir Hossain.

The other politicians, to be charge-sheeted, include former MPs Md Hafiz Ibrahim, M Rashiduzzaman Millat, Md Nasir Uddin Ahmed Pintu of BNP Shajahan Chowdhury of Jamaat-e-Islami, former conservator of forests M Anwarul Islam and DCC Ward Commissioner M Alam Chowdhury of BNP.

Along with them, charge sheets will also be given against the wives of HBM Iqbal, BM Bakir Hossain, Nasir Uddin Pintu and Rashiduzzaman Millat and his son.

ACC Secretary Mokhles-ur-Rahman disclosed this at the regular press briefing held at the Commission Bhaban yesterday. He said all the charge sheets would be submited to the court immediately.

The ACC Secretary said the commission issued notices to three more persons to submit their wealth statement to the commission within seven working days of the receipt of the notice.

Those who were issued notices include former Chhatra League president Liakat Ali Sikder, Zia Uddin Ahmed Majumder (Jewel), son of former MP Kamal Ahmed Majumder and M Nazim Uddin, Chairman of Subhadaya Union Parishad under Keraniganj upazila in Dhaka.

Of the listed 142 persons, 138 were issued notices to submit their wealth statement on Wednesday and issuance of notice to another person is under process, he said.

Mokhles-ur-Rahman said the ACC has so far submited 71 FIRs in different police stations. Of these, verdicts in 12 cases have already been given by the courts after hearings, 23 cases remained at the stage of taking deposition while 36 cases are under investigation.

He said the Commission has taken decision to file non-submission case against Dr Firoz Mahmud Iqbal, assignment officer of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, for defiance of the ACC notice to submit his wealth statement

The ACC secretary said the commission also has taken step to vacate the High Court order on a writ petition of Kazi Mosharraf Hossain, a CBA leader, challenging the ACC notice served on him to submit wealth statement

Replying to a question, he said the appointment of investigation officer (IO) in the graft case against Tarique Rahman, his wife and mother-in-law is under process.