Photo: Collected
It has been reported that former Cabinet Secretary Kabir Bin Anwar, Khandaker Anwarul Islam, Mohammad Shafiul Alam, Mohammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan and M Abdul Aziz are on the ACC's search list. Among the principal secretaries of the Prime Minister, ACC will trace the assets of Tofazzal Hossain Mia, Dr. Ahmad Kaykaus, Md. Najibur Rahman, Dr. Kamal Abdul Nasser Chowdhury, Md. Abul Kalam Azad, Abdus Sobahan Sikder and Sheikh Md Wahid Uzzaman.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is entering the field in search of the assets of Awami League ministers-MPs as well as officials who held top positions in the administration during the Sheikh Hasina government. A policy decision has been taken to investigate bureaucrats who have taken various privileges from important posts in the last 15 years.
According to the ACC sources, this process will begin by subpoenaing the assets of the former cabinet secretaries and principal secretaries of the prime minister. After that, former public administration secretaries and energy secretaries will come under investigation. Apart from this, complaints have been submitted to the ACC against several bureaucrats who benefited during the Awami League period.
ACC officials said that in the past 15 years, the bureaucrats have shown their power with the blessings of the government. ACC has received specific complaints against many people at various times. However, due to pressure from various quarters, the organization has not been able to deal with those complaints so far. After the political change, the ACC has started a new investigation on many important files that are now trapped in red tape.
ACC has filed allegations of unprecedented irregularities and corruption against dozens of influential bureaucrats of the previous government. Some of them have information of acquiring huge wealth illegally. In their working life, they became the owner of hundreds of crores of takas by engaging in various irregularities including abuse of power, bribery, taking commission from development projects.
With these illegal funds, they have built huge wealth in the country and abroad. Various banks have FDRs worth crores of takas anonymously. Some have huge stakes in various companies. Many have land in different parts of the country. Most of these assets are in the name of spouse, children or relatives. Many have entered politics after the end of the job. Some are also accused of money laundering.
An ACC official, who did not wish to be named, told The Daily Messenger that these complaints were on file in the ACC for a long time. Due to pressure on the government, nothing could be done about them. In the change of power, the ACC has become busy with those files. In the meantime, investigations have been started against various influential people in the government. All complaints will be dealt with in a phased manner.
A deputy director of the ACC said, “In the first place in the search list are the cabinet secretaries of the previous government and the principal secretaries of the prime minister. These top bureaucrats were very influential during the previous government. They used their influence and prestige to build mountains of illegal wealth by engaging in various irregularities. There has been an internal discussion on the matter. Investigation will be started against these former bureaucrats very soon.”
It has been reported that former Cabinet Secretary Kabir Bin Anwar, Khandaker Anwarul Islam, Mohammad Shafiul Alam, Mohammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan and M Abdul Aziz are on the ACC's search list. Among the principal secretaries of the Prime Minister, ACC will trace the assets of Tofazzal Hossain Mia, Dr. Ahmad Kaykaus, Md. Najibur Rahman, Dr. Kamal Abdul Nasser Chowdhury, Md. Abul Kalam Azad, Abdus Sobahan Sikder and Sheikh Md Wahid Uzzaman.
Among them, the inquiry has already started against the former cabinet secretary Kabir bin Anwar. Allegations of abuse of power, various irregularities and corruption in the name of the former official have accumulated in the name of himself and his family. On the basis of intelligence information, the initial truth of these allegations has been found, and a decision has been taken to conduct an open investigation.
According to the complaint submitted to the ACC, the wealth of this highly influential bureaucrat includes huge amount of wealth in different parts of the country including Dhaka, Gazipur, Sirajganj, St. Martin's Sonadia, Cox's Bazar. Apart from this, he is also accused of money laundering outside the country. He has a huge amount of money including three houses at Begumpara in Canada. Kabir bin Anwar bought assets worth thousands of crores in the names of his 5 sisters and their sister's husbands.
Anti-corruption commission has also filed complaints against Ahmad Kaykaus, former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister. There are allegations against him of involvement in unprecedented corruption and irregularities during his tenure as Secretary of Power Division. He stole hundreds of crores of takas from various power projects. Apart from this, during his tenure as Principal Secretary, he lobbied for transfers and preferred contractors to get various jobs.
Apart from this, former cabinet secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam has also been accused of corruption and irregularities. Several mega projects have been implemented in the country including the Padma bridge during the time of this secretary. There are allegations of misappropriation of huge amounts of illegal money through various irregularities and corruption in these projects.
ACC Secretary Khorsheda Yasmin said, “Whoever the corrupt person is, appropriate action is being taken against all those who are accused of crimes under the Anti-Corruption Act. If the complaint is proved in the investigation, the charge sheet will be given, the case will be filed in the court. Whoever is corrupt, there is no opportunity to give exemption to anyone.”
Messenger/Disha
