corruption cases are getting posting before acquittal of the charges. As a result, the accused officials get the chance to influence the case through lobbying remaining in the position, which is impediment to fair-trial. A review of the ACC cases from 2009 to 2013 shows that during this period 77 cases were filed against officials of different cadres. In these cases 80 officials were made accused. Among them 48 were of administration cadre, 23 of health cadre and 6 of police cadre. Besides, 5 of livestock cadre, 4 of education, 3 each of telecommunication and public works and one of tax cadre. This trend of corruption cases continued for the last eight months also. In these cases also the officials of administration cadre remain ahead. Chargesheets have been submitted in 42 cases during 2009 to 2013. Names of 29 officials are included there. An official of administration cadre stated that there are 28 cadre services of the government. Of them most of the officials are from administration cadre. Officials of this cadre are scattered all over the country. They work for mutation of land ownership, acquisition of land for the government, giving lease which is related with public interest. Similarly, ultra-modern work such as satellite launching is also done under the supervision of the officials of administration cadre. While representing government at various levels, occasionally they face cases due to government decision as well. Despite the fact that the number of graft cases against police cadre officials is lower than that of admin, TIB thinks the former is one of the most corrupt sectors. The police officials remain out of the reach by allegedly exercising undue influence. The ACC and the TIB consider the media reports as the basis of every investigation. But the anti-graft watchdog does not entertain any media report if published against any police official. Had the newspaper report been entertained, the police service would have been the most corrupt sector. ACC chairman Md Badiuzzaman said “In spite of being an officer of admin cadre, I am bound to say that the number of graft allegation here is higher than that of other cadres.” Showing the reason behind it, he said the officials of admin cadre are engaged in acquisition of land, mutation and other public interest issues from the outset of their service resulting in multiplicity of graft allegations against them. The scare about police officials in the public mind may be the reason why the poor number of allegation being raised against them. He said reports on public harassment by police are being published frequently. He, however, said harassing people and committing corruption are quite different things. “As we are keen to receive allegation against police, it is out of question to spare them,” he added. Former cabinet secretary Ali Imam Majumder opposed the idea of holding any particular cadre responsible. He said corruption is widespread like a virus. He spoke on the need for political goodwill to stamp out corruption from the society. TIB executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said an official facing allegation or case should not be transferred to elsewhere until the procedure is exhausted. He said TIB report showed police to be the most corrupt sector on the basis of fact and figure. An official said corruption is being committed in determination of ownership of land, mutation and other projects. Cases are filed in this regard. But some corruptions remain behind the scene and nobody is sued for the purpose. One of those corruptions is connected with local relation fund. The DCs can expend money from the fund for entertaining the ministers and other high officials during their visit and stay at the circuit house. No audit is held in this regard. The deputy commissioners collect the money of the fund from various organisations and businessmen. At the time of issuing various licence, money is collected from the licensee for the purpose. The fund is allegedly being misused. If any minister and high-up visit any district, the officials of the local office and department under the ministry concerned bear the cost of entertainment. Admin officials said the police maintain similar fund to be spent for sources. Such source money is allocated to various intelligence services. The money is also being spent without audit. In 2013, the ACC filed cases against the officials of 22 cadres. One of the cases was filed for grabbing 400 acres of government land. Former AC land of Gazipur Sadar Nurul Islam allegedly grabbed the khas land by forging the khatian. After completing investigation into the allegation, the ACC filed case against him. But he has been transferred to Dhaka zone of Department of Environment (DoE). Another former AC land of Gazipur is facing similar allegation. He is Atul Sarker. He allegedly performed mutation of a vested property in favour of a person in exchange for bribe. He was appointed UNO of Ullapara under Sirajganj. He has been transferred to another place now. Former ADC (revenue) of Dhaka Zonendra Nath Sarker is facing a case for performing mutation of 0.55 acres of land in favour of a private person through abuse of power. He was transferred to Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources. While Batiaghata UNO of Khulna Md Sajedur Rahman was facing a case, he was transferred to Chuadanga. Former Bogra DC Md Iftekharul Islam Khan and Sherpur AC Land Dewan Mahbubur Rahman were facing case for grabbing 3.29 acres of khas land. When the case was pending, one was transferred to the home ministry while another to Nowabganj in Dhaka. Md. Shajahan Mia, the then project director of the Election Commission, was sued for committing corruption. Later, he was transferred to labour and employment ministry. When Hakimpur UNO of Dinajpur Tofazzal Hossain sued for embezzling money, he was transferred to Polashbari under Gaibandha. Besides, the accused officials of the corruption cases are: Sanzida Sharmin, Land Acquisition Official of Chittagong DC office, Md Aminul Islam, former DC of Serajganj district, Mizanur Rahman, former UNO of Kanaighat, Md Abdur Rauf Talukder, former Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Tejgaon Circle of Dhaka and Md Masud Karim, former Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) of Dhaka. A case was lodged against Sanzida Sharmin for misappropriating Tk 78 lakh while acquiring a land for Asian Woman University in Chittagong. A case has been going on against Md Aminul Islam, former DC of Serajganj for his alleged involvement in irregularities and corruption for handing over ‘ijara’ of Enayetpur haat of Chowhali upazila in Serajganj district. Another case was lodged against Md Abdur Rouf Talukder, former Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Tejgaon Circle of Dhaka and Md Masud Karim, former Additional Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka for their alleged involvement in issuing illegal order for mutation. A case also was lodged against Mizanur Rahman, former UNO of Kanaighat for illegally handing over 104.11 acres of land instead of 17.94 to ijara receiver for which government incurs huge revenue losses worth Tk 36 lakh. Besides, a case has been going on against Dr Showkat Hossain, Secretary of Ministry of Expatriates‘ Welfare and Overseas Employment for allotment of plot illegally. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is taking preparation to lodge case against former Chairman of BPC and Abu Bakar Siddique, Postal Secretary for misappropriating Tk 150 crore of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) and ACC is investigating an allegation against Shahidur Rahman, Director General of Water Development Board (WDB) about his illegal wealth. The ACC lodged a case against Shahriar Matin, former Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Gopalganj on 24 August last. Allegation has been raised against Sujit Roy, former UNO of Chhatak upazila in Sunamganj district for misappropriating Tk 10 lakh by showing 12 false projects. Iftikher Uddin Ahmed, former Police Super of Chittagong did not submit his wealth statement to ACC in due time. So a case in this connection is going on. It is learnt that non-cadre officials are mostly involved in corruption compared to cadre officials. For the last five years, ACC lodged 160 cases against officials and employees of different ministries and divisions for corruption allegation. 492 officials and employees are made accused in the cases. Charge-sheet of 232 cases were submitted to the court.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Administration cadre at top of corruption:Daily Sun
corruption cases are getting posting before acquittal of the charges. As a result, the accused officials get the chance to influence the case through lobbying remaining in the position, which is impediment to fair-trial. A review of the ACC cases from 2009 to 2013 shows that during this period 77 cases were filed against officials of different cadres. In these cases 80 officials were made accused. Among them 48 were of administration cadre, 23 of health cadre and 6 of police cadre. Besides, 5 of livestock cadre, 4 of education, 3 each of telecommunication and public works and one of tax cadre. This trend of corruption cases continued for the last eight months also. In these cases also the officials of administration cadre remain ahead. Chargesheets have been submitted in 42 cases during 2009 to 2013. Names of 29 officials are included there. An official of administration cadre stated that there are 28 cadre services of the government. Of them most of the officials are from administration cadre. Officials of this cadre are scattered all over the country. They work for mutation of land ownership, acquisition of land for the government, giving lease which is related with public interest. Similarly, ultra-modern work such as satellite launching is also done under the supervision of the officials of administration cadre. While representing government at various levels, occasionally they face cases due to government decision as well. Despite the fact that the number of graft cases against police cadre officials is lower than that of admin, TIB thinks the former is one of the most corrupt sectors. The police officials remain out of the reach by allegedly exercising undue influence. The ACC and the TIB consider the media reports as the basis of every investigation. But the anti-graft watchdog does not entertain any media report if published against any police official. Had the newspaper report been entertained, the police service would have been the most corrupt sector. ACC chairman Md Badiuzzaman said “In spite of being an officer of admin cadre, I am bound to say that the number of graft allegation here is higher than that of other cadres.” Showing the reason behind it, he said the officials of admin cadre are engaged in acquisition of land, mutation and other public interest issues from the outset of their service resulting in multiplicity of graft allegations against them. The scare about police officials in the public mind may be the reason why the poor number of allegation being raised against them. He said reports on public harassment by police are being published frequently. He, however, said harassing people and committing corruption are quite different things. “As we are keen to receive allegation against police, it is out of question to spare them,” he added. Former cabinet secretary Ali Imam Majumder opposed the idea of holding any particular cadre responsible. He said corruption is widespread like a virus. He spoke on the need for political goodwill to stamp out corruption from the society. TIB executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said an official facing allegation or case should not be transferred to elsewhere until the procedure is exhausted. He said TIB report showed police to be the most corrupt sector on the basis of fact and figure. An official said corruption is being committed in determination of ownership of land, mutation and other projects. Cases are filed in this regard. But some corruptions remain behind the scene and nobody is sued for the purpose. One of those corruptions is connected with local relation fund. The DCs can expend money from the fund for entertaining the ministers and other high officials during their visit and stay at the circuit house. No audit is held in this regard. The deputy commissioners collect the money of the fund from various organisations and businessmen. At the time of issuing various licence, money is collected from the licensee for the purpose. The fund is allegedly being misused. If any minister and high-up visit any district, the officials of the local office and department under the ministry concerned bear the cost of entertainment. Admin officials said the police maintain similar fund to be spent for sources. Such source money is allocated to various intelligence services. The money is also being spent without audit. In 2013, the ACC filed cases against the officials of 22 cadres. One of the cases was filed for grabbing 400 acres of government land. Former AC land of Gazipur Sadar Nurul Islam allegedly grabbed the khas land by forging the khatian. After completing investigation into the allegation, the ACC filed case against him. But he has been transferred to Dhaka zone of Department of Environment (DoE). Another former AC land of Gazipur is facing similar allegation. He is Atul Sarker. He allegedly performed mutation of a vested property in favour of a person in exchange for bribe. He was appointed UNO of Ullapara under Sirajganj. He has been transferred to another place now. Former ADC (revenue) of Dhaka Zonendra Nath Sarker is facing a case for performing mutation of 0.55 acres of land in favour of a private person through abuse of power. He was transferred to Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources. While Batiaghata UNO of Khulna Md Sajedur Rahman was facing a case, he was transferred to Chuadanga. Former Bogra DC Md Iftekharul Islam Khan and Sherpur AC Land Dewan Mahbubur Rahman were facing case for grabbing 3.29 acres of khas land. When the case was pending, one was transferred to the home ministry while another to Nowabganj in Dhaka. Md. Shajahan Mia, the then project director of the Election Commission, was sued for committing corruption. Later, he was transferred to labour and employment ministry. When Hakimpur UNO of Dinajpur Tofazzal Hossain sued for embezzling money, he was transferred to Polashbari under Gaibandha. Besides, the accused officials of the corruption cases are: Sanzida Sharmin, Land Acquisition Official of Chittagong DC office, Md Aminul Islam, former DC of Serajganj district, Mizanur Rahman, former UNO of Kanaighat, Md Abdur Rauf Talukder, former Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Tejgaon Circle of Dhaka and Md Masud Karim, former Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) of Dhaka. A case was lodged against Sanzida Sharmin for misappropriating Tk 78 lakh while acquiring a land for Asian Woman University in Chittagong. A case has been going on against Md Aminul Islam, former DC of Serajganj for his alleged involvement in irregularities and corruption for handing over ‘ijara’ of Enayetpur haat of Chowhali upazila in Serajganj district. Another case was lodged against Md Abdur Rouf Talukder, former Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Tejgaon Circle of Dhaka and Md Masud Karim, former Additional Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka for their alleged involvement in issuing illegal order for mutation. A case also was lodged against Mizanur Rahman, former UNO of Kanaighat for illegally handing over 104.11 acres of land instead of 17.94 to ijara receiver for which government incurs huge revenue losses worth Tk 36 lakh. Besides, a case has been going on against Dr Showkat Hossain, Secretary of Ministry of Expatriates‘ Welfare and Overseas Employment for allotment of plot illegally. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is taking preparation to lodge case against former Chairman of BPC and Abu Bakar Siddique, Postal Secretary for misappropriating Tk 150 crore of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) and ACC is investigating an allegation against Shahidur Rahman, Director General of Water Development Board (WDB) about his illegal wealth. The ACC lodged a case against Shahriar Matin, former Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Gopalganj on 24 August last. Allegation has been raised against Sujit Roy, former UNO of Chhatak upazila in Sunamganj district for misappropriating Tk 10 lakh by showing 12 false projects. Iftikher Uddin Ahmed, former Police Super of Chittagong did not submit his wealth statement to ACC in due time. So a case in this connection is going on. It is learnt that non-cadre officials are mostly involved in corruption compared to cadre officials. For the last five years, ACC lodged 160 cases against officials and employees of different ministries and divisions for corruption allegation. 492 officials and employees are made accused in the cases. Charge-sheet of 232 cases were submitted to the court.
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