The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The Anti-Corruption Commission has withdrawn its representatives from the government taskforce entrusted with the task of bringing back siphoned off money as the ACC thinks there is no need to have its officials in it for the time being due to the nature of its works.

"Considering the nature of its works, the Commission thinks there is no need to be a member of the taskforce for the time being," ACC director general (admin) Col Hanif Iqbal told the Commission's regular briefing.

Responding to a query, he said it is stated in sections of the law how much responsibility the Commission has in bringing back money from abroad. "The Commission is not the appropriate authority to bring money from abroad."

To a questioner who reminded that initially ACC showed interest in this regard, Hanif said still the Commission is not showing any disinterest.

On media reports that the Commission is reviving about 1,500 cases filed by the now-defunct Bureau of Anti-Corruption, he said there are about 1,500 cases with the ACC, which were filed during 1999-2006 and considering the importance the Commission has selected more than 50 of them for reopening.

Those accused in the cases that have been selected for revival include officials of ACC and different professionals, he added. The director general said the Commission is going to file cases against Rajshahi City Corporation Mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's assignment officer Dr Firoj Mahmud Iqbal and their wives for concealing information, acquiring wealth beyond their known sources of income and abuse of power. The case against Minu and his wife Salma Rahman will be filed for concealing information about their assets worth over Tk 2 crore and acquiring illegal wealth worth over 3.5 crore.

The case against Firoj and his wife Imtiaj Begum will be filed for acquiring wealth worth about Tk 1.47 crore disproportionate to their known sources of income. He will also be accused of causing the government a loss of about Tk 35 lakh by using five vehicles through abusing his post and power.

Hanif said the Commission is also going to submit a charge-sheet against former Prime Minister Khaleda's political secretary Harris Chowdhury, former whip Ashraf Hossain, Orion Group chairman Obaidul Karim and two others in the case of bribing a car for wining the construction work of Jatrabari-Gulistan flyover.

Asked if Asraf Hossain's arrest would be inevitable following the submission of the charge sheet, he said it is a legal process and if there is a provision for arrest he will be arrested after submission of the charge sheet.

About media reports suggesting that cases would be filed within this week against two former PMs Khaleda and Hasina for corruption allegations regarding Niko, Hanif said, "Based on the information, I don't know when the Commission will file the cases. If the Commission was sure about it I would know."

He said it would not be right to speculate about the timing of filing of the cases. "They'll be filed in time. The Commission will take the time it needs."

About the progress of the GATCO case on which the investigation report has already been submitted, Hanif said it is still at the Commission's scrutiny stage.

He said the ACC today issued notice to former Prime Minister and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina's APS Alauddin Nasim directing him to submit his wealth statement.