leaders are more interested to start afresh the old cases filed against the country’s top businessmen-industrialists during the 1/11 government of Moinuddin-Fakhruddin. As a result, the leading businessmen are in great trouble. The non-return of forcibly taken Tk 1,232 crore even in seven years is a violation of the assurance given to the businessmen. In this case, the court order has also been ignored. There are allegations of harassing the businessmen with the tax- evasion and corruption cases of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed during 1/11 period. Moreover, these top businessmen of the country are deeply worried about their personal security. There is no government initiative to give them security. Under compulsion, a number of leading businessmen have arranged their security by themselves. State Minister for Finance and Planning MA Mannan said investigation will be conducted if allegations are received that the lawyers of the present government have harassed the businessmen persecuted during the 1/11 period. ACC Commissioner Shahabuddin Chuppu said a number of cases of 1/11 period are in force now. No case is dropped. Some cases are under investigation, some have been charge-sheeted and some others are under trial. The merit of the cases will be proved in the court and there is nothing of harassment here. According to sources, the businessmen are disappointed with non-return of the money even in long seven years. During her last term, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had assured the businessman of returning that money. Then Finance Minister AMA Muhith had raised objection. It is learnt that during the period from April 2007 to November 2008, the officials of an intelligence agency and the then taskforce intelligence (TFI) took Tk 1,232 crore from 40 persons and establishments. Through over 200 pay orders, the money was deposited with government’s account number 0900 of Bangladesh Bank. Not only collection of money, a number of businessmen were then taken into prison. About the state of that money now, a high official of Bangladesh Bank on condition of anonymity said no interest was counted as the money was deposited into current account. In the opinion of some senior bank officials, the government may think of returning the money. A source in the finance ministry said this Tk 1,232 crore deposited into the government’s consolidated fund in the Bangladesh Bank was spent by the government during the last tenure for urgent purposes. The Finance Minister has raised objection as the money cannot be returned now. Responsible officials of the finance ministry maintained that if the money has to be returned to the businessmen, allocation of funds in the national budget will be required. President of FBCCI (an apex body of the businessmen) Kazi Akramuddin Ahmed said on Friday his organisation will take initiative if any harassed businessman wants back the money. Former FBCCI president Abdul Awal Mintoo had said in December last year the 1/11 government took the money illegally and this government is indulging in illegal act by not returning that money. He demanded effective step by the government to return the money. The entrepreneurs of the housing sector had fallen victim to the persecution by the undemocratic Moinuddin-Fakhruddin government. In this regard, REHAB President Shamsul Alamin said the money taken illegally should be returned immediately. Besides, enactment of law is necessary so that no government in future can take the money of businessmen in this way. Unique Group Managing Director and manpower exporter Noor Ali said Moinuddin-Fakhruddin government took Tk 40.5 crore from him illegally. Those who took the money illegally should be brought to book. He further said the High Court had ordered for returning the money. Those who took the money also have said they have no objection to returning the money. But it is not understandable why the finance ministry is not taking any initiative. Mayor-elect of Dhaka North City Corporation Annisul Huq, who was FBCCI president during army-backed caretaker government, said at different times that the democratic government should return the money taken forcibly from the businessmen.
Monday, May 4, 2015
Businessmen yet to get back ‘extorted’ Tk 1232cr:Daily Sun
leaders are more interested to start afresh the old cases filed against the country’s top businessmen-industrialists during the 1/11 government of Moinuddin-Fakhruddin. As a result, the leading businessmen are in great trouble. The non-return of forcibly taken Tk 1,232 crore even in seven years is a violation of the assurance given to the businessmen. In this case, the court order has also been ignored. There are allegations of harassing the businessmen with the tax- evasion and corruption cases of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed during 1/11 period. Moreover, these top businessmen of the country are deeply worried about their personal security. There is no government initiative to give them security. Under compulsion, a number of leading businessmen have arranged their security by themselves. State Minister for Finance and Planning MA Mannan said investigation will be conducted if allegations are received that the lawyers of the present government have harassed the businessmen persecuted during the 1/11 period. ACC Commissioner Shahabuddin Chuppu said a number of cases of 1/11 period are in force now. No case is dropped. Some cases are under investigation, some have been charge-sheeted and some others are under trial. The merit of the cases will be proved in the court and there is nothing of harassment here. According to sources, the businessmen are disappointed with non-return of the money even in long seven years. During her last term, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had assured the businessman of returning that money. Then Finance Minister AMA Muhith had raised objection. It is learnt that during the period from April 2007 to November 2008, the officials of an intelligence agency and the then taskforce intelligence (TFI) took Tk 1,232 crore from 40 persons and establishments. Through over 200 pay orders, the money was deposited with government’s account number 0900 of Bangladesh Bank. Not only collection of money, a number of businessmen were then taken into prison. About the state of that money now, a high official of Bangladesh Bank on condition of anonymity said no interest was counted as the money was deposited into current account. In the opinion of some senior bank officials, the government may think of returning the money. A source in the finance ministry said this Tk 1,232 crore deposited into the government’s consolidated fund in the Bangladesh Bank was spent by the government during the last tenure for urgent purposes. The Finance Minister has raised objection as the money cannot be returned now. Responsible officials of the finance ministry maintained that if the money has to be returned to the businessmen, allocation of funds in the national budget will be required. President of FBCCI (an apex body of the businessmen) Kazi Akramuddin Ahmed said on Friday his organisation will take initiative if any harassed businessman wants back the money. Former FBCCI president Abdul Awal Mintoo had said in December last year the 1/11 government took the money illegally and this government is indulging in illegal act by not returning that money. He demanded effective step by the government to return the money. The entrepreneurs of the housing sector had fallen victim to the persecution by the undemocratic Moinuddin-Fakhruddin government. In this regard, REHAB President Shamsul Alamin said the money taken illegally should be returned immediately. Besides, enactment of law is necessary so that no government in future can take the money of businessmen in this way. Unique Group Managing Director and manpower exporter Noor Ali said Moinuddin-Fakhruddin government took Tk 40.5 crore from him illegally. Those who took the money illegally should be brought to book. He further said the High Court had ordered for returning the money. Those who took the money also have said they have no objection to returning the money. But it is not understandable why the finance ministry is not taking any initiative. Mayor-elect of Dhaka North City Corporation Annisul Huq, who was FBCCI president during army-backed caretaker government, said at different times that the democratic government should return the money taken forcibly from the businessmen.
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