aring on the report submitted by the anti-graft watchdog. The acquitted persons are former Bridges Division Secretary Mosharraf Hossain, Superintendent Engineer of Bangladesh Bridge Authority Kazi Mohammad Ferdous, Executive Engineer of Roads and Highways Department Reaz Ahmed Zaber and former local agent of SNC Lavalin Mohammad Mostofa and its ex-officials Mohammad Ismail, Ramesh Shah and Kevin Wales. ACC Deputy Director Mirza Zahidul Alam, also the chief of the investigation team of the case, submitted the final report to the court on September 14 mentioning that the charges brought against them could not be proved in the case. The anti-graft body also mentioned in the report that they could not found any involvement of the former Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain and former State Minister for Foreign Affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury in the scam during the probe. On September 3, the ACC approved the final report clearing all the accused of graft charges as they did not find any evidence of ‘corruption conspiracy’ in hiring consultant for the Padma Bridge Project during the probe. On June 29, 2012, the World Bank cancelled its $1.2 billion funding for the bridge project, saying it had proof of a corruption conspiracy involving Bangladeshi officials, executives of a Canadian firm and some individuals. The ACC filed the case against the seven accused for their alleged involvement in the Padma Bridge Project graft with Banani police station in the capital on December 17, 2012. The ACC filed the case excluding the names of suspects former Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain and former State Minister for Foreign Affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury, though their names came in the scam. According to the case statement, Mosharraf Hossain dissolved the evaluation committee four times between January and June 2010 in efforts to award the consultancy job to the company of his choice. In violation of the WB’s Consulting Services Manual 2006, he became the head of the fourth evaluation committee. The manual states that all members of such a committee should have 10 years’ experience in the relevant field, which the secretary lacked. The case statement also said Mosharraf along with the six accused hatched the conspiracy. They provided SNC Lavalin with secret information regarding the tender and finally managed to award the job to SNC Lavalin. Another case over the Padma Bridge graft is under trial in a Canadian court where Ramesh Shah, a Bangladeshi origin Canadian national, is facing trial. The reason for submitting final report is that if charge-sheet is submitted in any case, the trial court requires the prosecution to show the basis of charge-sheet. In the instant case, the ACC had no evidence (the diary of Ramesh). The IO allegedly could not collect the diary. Two officials of the commission went to Canada to gather information. The then ACC law adviser and the incumbent law minister advocate Anisul Haque and its deputy director Mirza Zahidul Alam went there on two occasions. The IO could submit nothing except information collected from Canadian royal mounted police and some paper cutting. The investigation team of ACC submitted the report to the commission recommending filing of the case against former communications minister Syed Abul Hossain and former state minister for foreign affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury due to continuous pressure of World Bank after a series of events. A case was filed with Banani police station on December 17, 2012 making former secretary of the bridges division Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan as the prime accused. But the names of two Abuls were dropped from the case. When controversy ran high in the country, then ACC said, after the case legal action will be taken against them if found any proof. The statement of case revealed, during the tender process, the then communications minister Syed Abul Hossain contacted representatives of SNC-Lavalin and other establishments. Former state minister for foreign affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury also played role communicating alleged representatives of SNC-Lavalin. But the ACC did not get any information about keeping their role for arranging discussion. Though allegation of corruption for appointing inspector for Padma Bridge Project was raised before filing of the case, the ACC first denied any corruption. After that the ACC admitted the conspiracy of corruption in Padma Bridge project when the World Bank (WB) withdrew the loan from Padma Bridge Project on corruption charges. At one stage ACC was bound to file case. Syed Abul Hossain, the much-talked-about former communications minister of the incumbent ruling party was compelled to resign after the allegation of corruption on Padma Bridge was raised and Dr Moshiur Rahman, finance adviser to the Prime Minister was also relieved of his post. For this reason many sensational issues were created after filing of case on Padma Bridge corruption scandal.
Monday, October 27, 2014
All accused acquitted of graft charges:Daily Sun
aring on the report submitted by the anti-graft watchdog. The acquitted persons are former Bridges Division Secretary Mosharraf Hossain, Superintendent Engineer of Bangladesh Bridge Authority Kazi Mohammad Ferdous, Executive Engineer of Roads and Highways Department Reaz Ahmed Zaber and former local agent of SNC Lavalin Mohammad Mostofa and its ex-officials Mohammad Ismail, Ramesh Shah and Kevin Wales. ACC Deputy Director Mirza Zahidul Alam, also the chief of the investigation team of the case, submitted the final report to the court on September 14 mentioning that the charges brought against them could not be proved in the case. The anti-graft body also mentioned in the report that they could not found any involvement of the former Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain and former State Minister for Foreign Affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury in the scam during the probe. On September 3, the ACC approved the final report clearing all the accused of graft charges as they did not find any evidence of ‘corruption conspiracy’ in hiring consultant for the Padma Bridge Project during the probe. On June 29, 2012, the World Bank cancelled its $1.2 billion funding for the bridge project, saying it had proof of a corruption conspiracy involving Bangladeshi officials, executives of a Canadian firm and some individuals. The ACC filed the case against the seven accused for their alleged involvement in the Padma Bridge Project graft with Banani police station in the capital on December 17, 2012. The ACC filed the case excluding the names of suspects former Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain and former State Minister for Foreign Affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury, though their names came in the scam. According to the case statement, Mosharraf Hossain dissolved the evaluation committee four times between January and June 2010 in efforts to award the consultancy job to the company of his choice. In violation of the WB’s Consulting Services Manual 2006, he became the head of the fourth evaluation committee. The manual states that all members of such a committee should have 10 years’ experience in the relevant field, which the secretary lacked. The case statement also said Mosharraf along with the six accused hatched the conspiracy. They provided SNC Lavalin with secret information regarding the tender and finally managed to award the job to SNC Lavalin. Another case over the Padma Bridge graft is under trial in a Canadian court where Ramesh Shah, a Bangladeshi origin Canadian national, is facing trial. The reason for submitting final report is that if charge-sheet is submitted in any case, the trial court requires the prosecution to show the basis of charge-sheet. In the instant case, the ACC had no evidence (the diary of Ramesh). The IO allegedly could not collect the diary. Two officials of the commission went to Canada to gather information. The then ACC law adviser and the incumbent law minister advocate Anisul Haque and its deputy director Mirza Zahidul Alam went there on two occasions. The IO could submit nothing except information collected from Canadian royal mounted police and some paper cutting. The investigation team of ACC submitted the report to the commission recommending filing of the case against former communications minister Syed Abul Hossain and former state minister for foreign affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury due to continuous pressure of World Bank after a series of events. A case was filed with Banani police station on December 17, 2012 making former secretary of the bridges division Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan as the prime accused. But the names of two Abuls were dropped from the case. When controversy ran high in the country, then ACC said, after the case legal action will be taken against them if found any proof. The statement of case revealed, during the tender process, the then communications minister Syed Abul Hossain contacted representatives of SNC-Lavalin and other establishments. Former state minister for foreign affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury also played role communicating alleged representatives of SNC-Lavalin. But the ACC did not get any information about keeping their role for arranging discussion. Though allegation of corruption for appointing inspector for Padma Bridge Project was raised before filing of the case, the ACC first denied any corruption. After that the ACC admitted the conspiracy of corruption in Padma Bridge project when the World Bank (WB) withdrew the loan from Padma Bridge Project on corruption charges. At one stage ACC was bound to file case. Syed Abul Hossain, the much-talked-about former communications minister of the incumbent ruling party was compelled to resign after the allegation of corruption on Padma Bridge was raised and Dr Moshiur Rahman, finance adviser to the Prime Minister was also relieved of his post. For this reason many sensational issues were created after filing of case on Padma Bridge corruption scandal.
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