| Submit your comments on this article |
| Bangladesh |
| Bangladesh names 50 on alleged corruption list |
| 2007-02-19 |
| Some 50 allegedly corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen in Bangladesh must account for their personal wealth or it will be confiscated, the country’s anti-graft body said on Sunday. The body published a list naming the individuals and said their fortunes would be confiscated within three days unless they filed a wealth statement. A dozen ex-ministers, including former power minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmud Tuku from the outgoing government led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), feature on the list. Former home minister Mohamad Nasim of the main opposition Awami League is also named. “In our primary investigation we have found clear evidence of corruption against the 50. Their wealth doesn’t match their income,” Delowar Hossain, the secretary of the anti-corruption commission, said. “They have been asked to submit a wealth statement within the next 72 hours. If they fail to do it, we will temporarily confiscate or freeze their assets and properties,” he said. Hossain said more names would be published within the next few days. The list came after an interim government last week unveiled tough new emergency rules barring corrupt politicians from elections and confiscating their properties if they fail to come clean. Bangladesh has been under a state of emergency since January 11 when the president suspended national polls scheduled for January 22 and stepped down as the head of the interim government. The emergency followed months of crippling opposition protests over the disputed polls. At least 35 people died in the unrest. |
| Posted by:Fred |