Ex-BNP MP accused of grabbing Tk 15cr
Nitai demands probe into Salimul Huq's 'corruption'
Nitai Roy Chowdhury and Quazi Salimul Huq
Former minister and BNP central leader Nitai Roy Chowdhury has alleged that former party lawmaker Quazi Salimul Huq alias Quazi Kamal and his cronies grabbed at least Tk 15 crore through tender manipulation in different government departments during the alliance rule. The manipulations were done by a syndicate styled 'negotiation committee' led by him, Nitai said while talking tom this correspondent. He also demanded probe into various corruption and irregularities done by Quazi Kamal and his aides. Quazi Kamal was elected from Magura-2 constituency. He is chairman of Econo Ball Pen Company. Quazi Kamal, convener of Magura district unit BNP, is on the run after Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on May 29 filed a bribery case against him with Shahbag police station in Dhaka. Nitai Roy is joint-convener of Magura BNP. In the case, the ACC alleged that Qiazu Kamal along with detained former state minister for communications Salahuddin Ahmed realised Tk 1 crore bribe from contractor Mir Zahir Hossain to help him get a business, according to ACC sources and police here. Metropolitan Sessions Judge in Dhaka Mohammad Azizul Huq on September 16 ordered attachment of Salimul's property for not appearing before the court. Earlier, in 2006, at a meeting held on the occasion of BNP's founding anniversary on Magura Government College premises, Nitai Roy accused Quazi Kamal of grabbing huge amounts of money through tender manipulation and other illegal means. Industrialist turned lawmaker Quazi Kamal then filed a defamation suit against Nitai Roy. “I was sued by Kamal as I protested their corruption and irregularities, but now it has been proved that I was right,” Nitai said. “Many of our party men have now raised voices against their misdeeds that defamed our popular organization”, Nitai said. During alliance rule Quazi Kamal and his aides formed a syndicate styled 'negotiation committee' and manipulated tenders for development projects of most government departments. They also 'occupied' water bodies and markets in the name of lease, Nitai said. During alliance rule, no professional contractors had entry to any government department to buy or drop schedules without permission of the syndicate led by Kamal, he said. They distributed development works, markets and water bodies in exchange of money, the former minister told. They syndicate realised 16 per cent money of he estimated cost of development projects, he alleged. Six per cent of the money was deposited with the account of 'Quazi Salima Huq Trust', a social welfare body named after his mother and the rest were grabbed by his cronies, Nitai Roy said. In this way they realised at least Tk 15 crore in last five years, he claimed. They also realised money in appointment of primary school teachers and persons in health department. “In my opinion, all the irregularities done by Quazi Kamal and his cronies should be investigated and stern action should be taken so that in future no body dares to do such offenses”, Nitai Roy said.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments