Allegation Against Khaleda

ACC to quiz MK Anwar today

12 May 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) will quiz former agriculture minister MK Anwar today in connection with the investigation into the allegation of misappropriation of Tk 100 crore against former prime minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia. MK Anwar was a member of the cabinet committee on purchase during the BNP-led four-party alliance government that approved the construction of Bhairab Bridge, allegedly causing a loss of Tk 100 crore to the state exchequer. ACC Deputy Director Harunur Rashid, who is conducting two enquiries against Khaleda, will question the former minister at his residence at Elephant Road at 11:00am. The ACC has already questioned former communications minister Nazmul Huda and LGRD minister Mannan Bhuiyan in this connection and they denied that allegations of corruption in the construction of the bridge. The ACC issued notices to a total of eight former ministers of Khaleda's cabinet, seeking their appointment for questioning. Others are former state minister for energy AKM Mosharraf Hossain, former health minister Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, former home minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, former land minister M Shamsul Islam and former state minister for communications Salahuddin Ahmed. Earlier, ACC also tried to get an appointment with Khaleda for questioning her, but Khaleda in her reply to the notices first wanted to know in details about the allegations, which ACC cannot provide at this stage. The other allegation against Khaleda is laundering of Tk 7.5 crore of public money in the name of land purchase for Zia Charitable Trust. The money laundering probe also involves Khaleda's sons Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko as they are trustees of the Zia Charitable Trust. As per ACC code of practice, once its inquiry finds sufficient information about an allegation, it goes for filing a case and carrying out a full-fledged investigation.