The New Nation - Internet Edition

charge sheeted

UNB, Dhaka

The Anti-Corruption Commission has decided to press charges against Awami League leader and former MP Kazi Zafar Ullah in two graft cases.

The Commission will also charge-sheet Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal general secretary Zafrul Hasan, former BNP MP Dr Dewan Salahuddin Babu and ex-first secretary of the National Board of Revenue Amir Ali in three corruption cases.

ACC director general (admin) Col Hanif Iqbal told the Commission's regular briefing that the anti-graft watchdog has approved the submission of charge-sheets in the five graft cases.

He said the ACC has also approved the filing of two graft cases against a suspended engineer of the Bangladesh Power Development Board and a superintendent of the Water Development Board.

AL presidium member Zafar Ullah will be charge-sheeted in the case filed against him on June 8 for amassing illegal wealth worth Tk 15.23 crore.

A second charge-sheet will be submitted against him under the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2002 for transfer, handover and hiding of Tk 7 crore.

The ACC will charge-sheet Zafrul Hasan and his wife, Shefali Hasan, for having unearned wealth worth 51 lakh.

Former BNP MP Dr Dewan Salauddin Babu from Dhaka-12 will be charge-sheeted in the case filed against him for misappropriating CI sheet meant for relief.

The Commission will submit charge-sheet against ex-first secretary of the NBR Amir Ali and former NBR cashier Nurul Islam for misappropriation of Tk 33.65 lakh from government and welfare funds.

A case will be filed against superintending engineer of the

Bangladesh Power Development Board Moazzem Hossain (now suspended) and his wife Ayesha Hossain for amassing illegal wealth worth Tk 1.41 crore and hiding information of assets worth Tk 6 lakh.

The ACC will file a case against Kazi Shamsul Haque, superintendent of Water Development Board, for earning illegally wealth worth Tk 33.4 lakh and concealment of information of assets worth Tk 57 thousand.

Col Hanif told the briefing that the ACC has so far forwarded 79 applications to the Truth and Accountability Commission (Tac) and another 9 applications are waiting to be sent.

Responding to a query, he confirmed that the investigating report of the Barapukuria graft case filed against former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and 15 others has been submitted to the Commission.

Asked about the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case filed against Khaleda, her eldest son Tarique Rahman and others, Hanif said he does not have any updated information about that case.

About the update on wealth statements submitted by Khaleda and another former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said he cannot provide any update at the moment.

Responding to a question, he said no one in the ACC has been given the responsibility to inspire anybody to apply for Tac clemency.

Hanif said the ACC has approved the issuance of notices to AL leader Kazi Zafar Ullah's wife Nilufa Zafar and former deputy commissioner of Chandpur and incumbent director (joint secretary) of Bangladesh Handloom Board Taherul Islam directing them to submit their wealth statements.