The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has appointed 11 primary inquiry officers against 11 suspected corrupts out of the 35 on the Commission's 4th list.

The 11 suspected corrupts are Dhaka City Corporation mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka, Awami League presidium members Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury and Tofail Ahmed, former BNP state minister Major (retd) Kamrul Islam, former Finance Minister Saifur Rahman's son Shafiur Rahman Babu, former Awami League MP AKM Rahmatullah, former Adviser of caretaker government Justice Fazlul Haque, former BNP MP and BRTC chairman Taimur Alam Khandaker, former Communication Secretary Rezaul Hayat, deputy secretary Shamsul Alam, and RAJUK's building inspector and CBA president Amir Khasru.

The ACC published its 4th list of 35 suspected corrupts on October 4. Others in the list are AL presidium member Kazi Zafarullah, Khulna City Corporation Mayor and BNP leader Sheikh Tayebur Rahman, former BNP MP and chairman of Bangladesh Red Crescent Shahidul Haq Jamal, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader and former primary and mass education adviser to ex-PM Prof Jahanara Begum, former BNP state minister for Energy AKM Mosharaf Hossain, former BNP deputy minister Asadul Habib Dulu, former BNP MPs Sardar Sakhawat Hossain Bakul, Ilyas Ali, Fazlul Haque Milon, Abul Khair Bhuiyan, Prof Joinal Abedin alias VP Joinal and Dr Dewan Salahuddin, former Jatiya Party MP Moshiur Rahman Ranga, former Law Secretary Alauddin Sarder, former AL state minister KM Jahangir, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's APS-2 Abdul Matin (deputy secretary), Proshika chairman Kazi Faruque Ahmed, former managing director of Essential Drugs Company Ltd Harun Al Rashid, former PM Sheikh Hasina's APS Alauddin Nasim (deputy secretary), former Chhatra League presidents Ishaq Ali Khan Panna and Enamul Haque Shamim, former chairman of Srimongal pourasava Mohsin Miah alias Modhu, Rajshahi City BNP general secretary Shish Mohammad and former managing director of Teletalk M Obaidullah. "The primary inquiry officers against rest of the corrupt suspects will be appointed in phases as part of the Commission's ongoing process," ACC secretary Mukhles ur Rahman told reporters at a regular press briefing of the Commission on Monday.

He informed that the inquiry officer in the Tk 3 crore corruption case against Sheikh Hasina and six others has given written prayer to the Court for questioning her at the sub-jail. The graft case was filed with Tejgaon police station on September 2. "Anyone can serve legal notice, but it doesn't mean the inquiry process against her will be stopped," Mukhles said. "We will follow the directive of the Supreme Court."

About the allegation against Home Secretary Abdul Karim that he had amassed assets beyond his known sources of income, he said it was found to be false after primary investigation.

ACC secretary said: "From now the complainants have been asked to appear before the Commission after submitting his allegation against someone. Legal action will be taken against the persons if their allegation is proved false, fabricated and motivated." Any false accuser would have to suffer 2-7 years imprisonment as per section 511 of the Bangladesh Penal Code, he added. The Commission has already lodged 89 First Information Reports (FIRs) at different police stations. Of these, verdicts were given in 15 cases, 26 are in trial stage and the remaining 48 are still under investigation.