[🇧🇩] Corruption Watch

Reply (Scroll)
Press space to scroll through posts
G Bangladesh Defense
[🇧🇩] Corruption Watch
335
10K
More threads by Saif


Embezzlement found in 21 ICT projects
Taufiq Hossain Mobin 25 December, 2024, 00:07

1735089906914.png

Zunaid Ahmed Palak and Sajeeb Wazed Joy. | UNB file photo

An interim government review committee has found proof of embezzlement in 21 projects taken by the Information and Communication Technology Division during the Awami League regime which was ousted on August 5 through a student-led mass uprising.

Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed, former ICT adviser to the deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and Junaid Ahmed Palak, former state minister for the ICT, used to share money embezzled in the name of hiring manpower for projects under the division, the committee found.

The committee also sees a scope for saving about Tk 7,000 crore by cutting unnecessary components in these projects taken by the division.

ICT secretary Shish Haider Chowdhury on Tuesday made the statements at a press conference at the office of the ICT Division in the capital Dhaka while disclosing the findings of the committee.

The review committee was formed following an office order issued by the ICT Division on August 28 to review the completed and the under implementation projects taken by the division during the past 15 years of Awami League rule.

The 12-member committee headed by additional secretary for planning and development wing Mahbubur Rahman submitted the investigation report to the interim government, said Shish Haider.

‘Not only the political leadership, but also the bureaucrats in charge at that time are responsible for the corruption in such projects,’ he added.

‘Projects with irregularities will be stopped, and their contracts will be cancelled if needed. Those who are responsible for corruption in the ICT department’s purchases will be identified and punished from the forthcoming January,’ Shish Haider said.

The estimated costs of these projects were Tk 18,600 crore, said ICT Division officials.

The committee identified numerous unnecessary, overpriced and unjustified projects approved by the previous administration.

Review committee head Mahbubur Rahman told New Age that many of the unnecessary projects and components had already been slashed by the division during the investigation period.

‘Many hi-tech parks and IT training centres were built on agricultural land at the district and upazila levels to fulfil the desires of Awami League leaders,’ he said.

‘Many of these projects in different districts and upazilas are not useful to anyone. Several thousand crore taka has already been wasted on these facilities. We see no reason for keeping them,’ Mahbubur said.

He mentioned that a project was taken to make a cinema named ‘Khoka’ with a cost of Tk 16 crore.

‘This is not even the ICT Division’s area of work, numerous projects such as this were taken by the previous administration,’ Mahbubur said.

The review committee in its report recommended several key steps to improve project implementation.

It suggested, among others, removing unnecessary activities, making facilities permanent before project completion, clearly defining the roles of the Bangladesh Computer Council, Hi-Tech Park Authority and ICT Division, and resolving audit issues promptly.​
 

ACC to probe Padma Bridge, Novo Theatre graft cases again
Staff Correspondent 25 December, 2024, 00:17

1735089998902.png


The Anti-Corruption Commission has started proceeding with its bid to reinvestigate four years-old cases over conspiracies to commit corruption in the Padma Bridge contract awarding and corruption in building the Bangabandhu Novo Theatre planetarium.

‘We are scrutinising all the records and papers around the corruption cases, and we will take a decision regarding conducting further investigation within the shortest time,’ said a commission director general, preferring anonymity, on Tuesday.

According to the documents of the cases, on March 27, 2002, the now-defunct Bureau of Anti-Corruption filed three cases with the Tejgaon police, accusing former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and some former ministers of commiting corruption and irregularities in dealing with the project for building the Bangabandhu Novo Theatre planetarium.

The charges included unduly spending enormous amounts on hiring consultants for the project, purchasing machinery, and the planetarium construction work.

But the High Court on March 4, 2010, quashed all the proceedings against Sheikh Hasina, then prime minister, in all the three corruption cases.

The court also declared illegal both the filing and proceedings of the cases.

In a high-profile graft scandal, potential Padma Bridge financier World Bank in 2012 brought allegations of ‘conspiracy for corruption’ leading the then Sheikh Hasina-led government to launch an investigation.

The Anti-Corruption Commission after inquiries, filed a case of ‘conspiracy for corruption in the Padma Bridge project’ on December 17, 2012 against seven individuals: former Bridges Division secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, Bangladesh Bridge Authority superintendent engineer Kazi Mohammad Ferdous, Roads and Highways executive engineer Riaz Ahmad Jaber, Engineering Planners Consultant Ltd’s deputy managing director Mohammad Mostafa, director of international projects wing at the SNC-Lavalin company Mohammed Ismail, and the firm’s former vice presidents Ramesh Saha and Kevin Wallace.

The commission in its inquiry phase of the corruption allegations also included then communications minister Syed Abul Hossain and then state minister for foreign affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury as suspects. But when the commission filed the case later, the two names were not included as accused.

The allegations, however, led minister Abul Hossain to resign, and state minister Mosharraf Hossain to be put on forced leave.

But on September 14, 2014, the ACC submitted a final report to the court recommending relieving of all the seven accused, saying that the charges could not be proved during the probe.

The World Bank, however, eventually pulled out of the project as the financier to lend US$1.2 billion.

On Tuesday, the anti-corruption agency also sent a letter to the Chief Adviser’s Office, seeking documents on eight other projects that were taken during the tenure of now ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Agency deputy director Md Salahuddin sent the letter, requesting the documents to conduct inquiries against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her family members over allegations of embezzling and misuse of Tk 21,000 crore in the eight projects.

It also requested the Chief Adviser’s Office to provide the information by January 7, said ACC deputy director Aktarul Islam.

According to the letter, Hasina and others are under probe for alleged abuse of power and corruption during the implementation of the eight projects—the Mirsharai Economic Zone, Khurushkul Special Ashrayan Project, Ashrayan Project-2, BEPZA Economic Zone, Mirsharai First Phase, water treatment and deep tube well installation at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Industrial City, two modern fire stations in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Industrial City and the Indian Economic Zone in Mirsharai as well as the development of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Industrial City.

Earlier, the agency sent letter to the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit, summoning all the documents related to the local and international transactions of Sheikh Hasina and her family members.

It also sent letters to the Election Commission Office and the Immigration and Passport Office, seeking their personal documents.

A five-member team, formed on December 18, led by ACC deputy director Md Salahuddin is tasked with the probe into the graft allegations against them.

The ACC has started the inquiry over allegations of corruption worth Tk 80,000 crore against Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, her younger sister Sheikh Rehana, and Rehana’s daughter Tulip Siddique in nine projects undertaken between 2009 and 2023, including the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.

Apart from this, on December 22, the anti-graft body also started another inquiry against Sheikh Hasina and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy over allegations of laundering $300 million.​
 

Corruption behind shrinking overseas labour market
Says RMMRU report

1735431006700.png


Corruption, irregularities, and fraud have caused a significant contraction in Bangladesh's labour market for migrant workers, according to a report by the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU).

The report reveals that over 97 percent of Bangladeshi migrant workers have been sent to just 10 countries in the last five years.

This year, more than 90 percent of the workers were employed in six countries, with Saudi Arabia receiving over 60 percent of the total.

Malaysia and Qatar were also identified as major destinations.

However, the report highlights a worrying trend concerning female migrant workers.

The number of women migrating has sharply decreased this year, with only 54,696 female migrant workers going abroad.

This marks a 22 percent decline compared to the previous year.

Overall, the total number of migrant workers has fallen, with 906,355 leaving Bangladesh in 2024, a 30.8 percent drop from 1,305,453 in 2023.

Despite this, remittance inflows have seen a notable increase.

It is estimated that remittances in 2024 will total USD 26.4 billion, representing a 32.5 percent rise from the previous year.

Prof Tasneem Siddiqui, founding chair of RMMRU, presented the findings in a briefing at the Jatiya Press Club yesterday.

She attributed the shrinking labour market to systemic corruption and irregularities.

"In 2021, Malaysia reopened its labour market under a syndicate, but it was closed again in May 2024. This syndicate, led by Datuk Seri Aminul Islam and his Bangladeshi associate Ruhul Amin, embezzled USD 2 billion, which increased migration costs and left many workers stranded or forced to return home," she explained.

Prof Tasneem also said migration to several countries remained suspended in 2024, including Oman, Bahrain, the UAE, and the Maldives.

Additionally, migration to Italy and Serbia was halted due to the use of fake documents.

The report further pointed out that while migration slowed during the mass uprisings and economic instability, it has regained momentum in recent months.

In response to the challenges, Prof Tasneem recommended that the interim government prioritise good governance in the migration sector.

She called for the establishment of a dedicated migration commission, an increase in budget allocations, and the formulation of effective policies to address international migration challenges.

She also stressed the need for policy reforms, improved skills development for workers, and the creation of safe employment opportunities for women.

Transparency in the recruitment process and the strengthening of training centres were also emphasised as key to improving the migration system.​
 

HSIA 3rd terminal project: ACC probe begins over Tk 4,000cr embezzlement
Staff Correspondent 30 December, 2024, 01:08

1735524156793.png


The Anti-Corruption Commission on Sunday decided to conduct an inquiry against project director AKM Maksudul Islam and others involved over allegations of corruption and embezzlement of Tk 4,000 crore in the construction of the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

The decision for the inquiry came at a meeting held at the commission’s Segun Bagicha headquarters in the capital, said its director general for prevention Md Akhtar Hossain.

‘We have decided to start an inquiry into the allegations that AKM Maksudul Islam, the project director of HSIA’s third terminal, and others embezzled Tk 4,000 crore from the project through abuse of power, widespread irregularities, corruption and fraud.’

The allegations also include inflating the project cost from an estimated Tk 7,000 crore to Tk 22,000 crore through fraud and irregularities; purchasing equipment locally but claiming them as imports to misappropriate funds; embezzling Tk 900 crore through mismanagement in soil testing and design alteration; and selling three major contracts to contractors for commission.

Other allegations include installing low-quality equipment imported from China and Korea although tender documents mention European-standard equipment; widespread irregularities in ceiling works; spending of Tk 12 crore on unnecessary tasks to appease former prime minister Sheikh Hasina; and forming a ‘syndicate’ to embezzle project money.

When asked whether Sheikh Hasina was involved in the corruption, Aktar Hossain said, ‘Everyone who is found involved in the inquiry will be brought to justice.’

‘The ACC is committed to uncovering the truth behind these allegations and ensuring accountability for any wrongdoing,’ he added.

On October 7, 2023, the then prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, inaugurated the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

On December 28, 2019, ADC, a consortium of Mitsubishi Corporation, Fujita Corporation and Samsung C&T Corporation, began the construction of the third terminal.

The government contributed Tk 5,000 crore to the cost with the rest of the amount coming from the Japan International Cooperation Agency as loans.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh on various occasions said that passengers would be able to use the third terminal from October this year, but it has yet to start its full operation.​
 

Former ACC commissioner being investigated over illegal assets, smuggling funds
Published :
Dec 29, 2024 23:06
Updated :
Dec 29, 2024 23:06

1735525223011.png


The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has initiated an investigation against its former commissioner Jahurul Haque for alleged irregularities in acquiring a RAJUK plot, laundering money, and illegally obtaining assets in the BDR killings case.

Two senior ACC officials confirmed the decision on Thursday.

One of them told bdnews24.com, "The commission has decided to investigate him for abusing his power to acquire assets beyond his known income."

This marks the first time an ACC commissioner, current or former, faces such charges.

The home ministry has revoked Jahurul's passport and barred him from leaving the country.

Jahurul, a retired district and sessions judge, served as a judge in the BDR killings case.

He later served as BTRC commissioner and chairman before joining the ACC as commissioner in 2021.

He resigned on Oct 30 following the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government.

ALLEGED PLOT VIOLATIONS

Jahurul and his wife, Masuma Begum, allegedly violated rules by obtaining two separate five-katha plots in RAJUK’s Purbachal New Town project.

They later surrendered these plots, claimed to be landless, and secured a 10-katha plot "suitable for building a house".

This allocation contradicts RAJUK's policy, which prohibits individuals with existing plots in Dhaka from obtaining new ones.

RAJUK documents show that Jahurul and Masuma possessed and registered their respective plots between 2013 and 2014.

In 2022, Jahurul applied for a 10-katha plot, saying he and his wife had no objection to surrendering their previous plots.

His request was approved at a RAJUK board meeting in December 2022.

RAJUK's plot allocation rules, amended in 2009, disallow dual ownership by couples and require the surrender of one plot.

While some couples complied, Jahurul's case avoided cancellation.

Responding to allegations in November, Jahurul said: "There was no such rule when we received the plots.

“Later, we surrendered them, claimed to be landless, and requested a 10-katha plot. The allocation followed proper procedures."

When asked about irregularities in the case, a long-serving RAJUK official told bdnews24.com: "The new rules came into effect in 2024.

“The ACC commissioner had already received two plots before this, so the new rules do not apply to him. His acquisition of two plots falls outside these regulations."​
 

Members Online

Latest Threads

Latest Posts

Back