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ACC to intensify anti-graft purge

Targeting big fishes, godfathers this time


Published : 24 Feb 2020 09:45 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 07:28 PM

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is going to intensify its drives from next month against corrupt elements, focusing on the godfathers behind the scene, said sources.

According to official sources, as part of the move, the ACC has launched a process to appoint 288 new officials ranking from assistant director, deputy director and court inspectors for conducting critical investigation with extra efforts.

ACC Chairman Iqbal Mahmoood said, “No big-fishes will be spared. Earlier we had some weakness, but now those are overcome.”
It should be mentioned that the state anti-graft body had launched a cleansing drive against money launderers, owners of illegal wealth, corrupt business persons and contractors, illegal casino business and other types of criminals. In the drives, the ACC had netted 693 corrupt persons and hard core criminals, who belonged to different political parties including the ruling Awami League and many of its front organisations, as well as present and former government officials, contractors and businessmen. A large number of present and former government officials have also been arrested.

Of them, names of Ismail Hossain Somrat, Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan, GK Shamim, Lokman Hossain and Selim Prodhan could be mentioned.
Besides, bank accounts have been frozen and travel bans were imposed against several ruling party lawmakers including Nur-un-Nobi Chowdhury Shaon, Shamsul Huq Chowdhury, immediate past Jubo League chairman Omar Faryuq Chowdhury, Swechchhsebok League President Molla Md Abu Kawsar, General Secretary Pankaj Devnath, Jubo League leader Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat, Dhaka City Ward Coincilors Mominul Huq Sayeed, Habibur Rahman Mizan, Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan, Mohamedan Sporting Club Director Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan, Kalabagan Crira Chakra president Shafiqul Islam Firoz, Jubo League leaders Kazi Anisur Rahman, Mizanur Rahman Bakul, Awami League leadr Enamul Huq Enu, his brother Rupam Bhuiyan, contractor GK Shamim, former PWD chief enginner Rafiqul Islam and present additional chief engineer Abdul Hye, mafia don Aziz Mohammad Bhai, their family members and business organisations. As part of the drives, all the casinos have been shut down.

However, the drives slowed down at one stage in the beginning of this year for unknown reasons.
But, the ACC officials said they are going to resume the cleansing drives further with renewed strength and this time, the drives will be conducted targeting the big-fishes or godfathers who are carrying out various types of corruptions from behind the scene. The fresh drives might be launched from the month of March, they said.