Khaleda ZiaThree-term PM of Bangla, widow of deceased dictator Ziaur Rahman, head of the Bangla Nationalist Party, an apparent magnet for corruption ...
and several others in Shaheed Zia Charitable Trust corruption case.
Yesterday at a monthly press briefing, the anti-graft body declared that an investigation that started from September into the case was completed.
"The investigation findings substantiate the allegation that money was collected using the influence of the then prime minister for setting up the organization," an ACC official told The Daily Star on condition of anonymity as the service rule prohibits disclosing probe findings unless approved by the commission.
He, however, said the commission's decision based on the investigation would not be known before December 15 as until then its chairman Prof Ghulam Rahman would be staying abroad on an official tour.
The corruption case, filed on August 8, was the first against opposition leader Khaleda Zia after the Awami League-led grand alliance assumed office in January 2009.
The other accused are Abul Harris Chowdhury, political secretary to the then prime minister; his assistant personal secretary Ziaul Islam Munna; and Monirul Islam Khan, APS to the now defunct Dhaka City Corporation's mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka.
As per the first information report, a piece of 42-katha land had been purchased from Suraiya Khan for Tk 6.52 crore of the trust fund, but the land had not been registered under the name of the organization. Moreover, sources of Tk 1.25 crore spent in purchasing the land is unknown.
Complainant ACC Assistant Director Harunur Rashid, immediately after filing the case, told news hounds that Khaleda's two sons Tarique Rahman
...the elder son of former President of Bangladesh Ziaur Rahman Bir Uttam, and Khaleda Zia, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh. He is the Senior Vice Chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). His nickname is
Pino. There are allegations that Pino took a rakeoff from every foreign investment into the country while Mom was in office...
and Arafat Rahman Koko, trustees of Zia Charitable Trust, might be accused in the charge sheet if their names would come up in the probe.
Harun, also investigation officer of the case, told The Daily Star yesterday that the probe report was submitted last week.
According to ACC rules, the investigation report has to be approved by the commission prior to pressing charges against the accused.
Meanwhile,
...back at the wine tasting, Vince was about to start tasting his third quart...
Director General of ACC (admin and establishment) Farrukh Ahmad said at the press briefing that the ACC had requested the organizations, which had participated in the tender process of Padma Bridge construction, to apprise it of the irregularities in the process, if any.