The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Anti-Corruption Commission on Monday appointed investigation officer (IO) to examine the allegation brought against former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and 15 others in the Baropukuria Coal Mine graft case.

The ACC appointed its Deputy Director Monirul Haque as the IO entrusting him with the power to arrest any accused person of the case if he feels necessary in the interest of proper investigation. In his regular briefing, ACC Director General (admin) Colonel Hanif Iqbal today said the appointment letter was issued yesterday and we hope that the investigation will begin immediately.

The ACC filed the case on February 26 last against Begum Zia and 15 others including former chairman of the cabinet committee on public procurement and former finance minister M Saifur Rahman, former BNP secretary general and LGRD Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, former health and family welfare minister Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, former industries minister and Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh Moulana Matiur Rahman Nizami.

Former members of the cabinet committee on Public Procurement and former information minister M Shamsul Islam, former agriculture minister MK Anwar, former post and telecommunications minister Barrister Mohammad Aminul Haque, former commerce minister Alhaj Altaf Hossain Chowdhury and former social welfare minister and secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid and state minister for energy and mineral resources AKM Mosharraf Hossain were also accused in the case.