Dhaka: The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) today filed a case against former chairman of Bangladesh Bridge Authority and former minister Obaidul Quader, along with 13 others, over allegations related to the allocation of flats to government officials and influential persons on land originally acquired for the resettlement of those affected by the Dhaka Elevated Expressway Project.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Director General of the anti-graft body, Md. Akhtar Hossain, disclosed this information during a regular media briefing at the commission's headquarters. ACC Assistant Director Khorshed Alam has been designated as the complainant in this case.
The other individuals accused in the case include former senior secretary of the bridge division Khandaker Anwarul Islam, former secretary of the road transport and highways division Md. Nazrul Islam, former secretary of the public security division of the home ministry Mostafa Kamal Uddin, and several other high-profile former government officials from various departments.
The ACC's investigation revealed that although 40 acres of land were acquired for the rehabilitation of those impacted by the Dhaka Elevated Expressway PPP project, this land was subsequently used for constructing housing for employees of the Bangladesh Bridge Authority and other departments under a 99-year lease agreement. This action was allegedly undertaken without the necessary approval from the ministry of land, as stipulated by section 19(1) of the land acquisition act of 2017.
Furthermore, under section 13(2) of the Bangladesh Bridge Authority Act, 2016, the provision only allowed for temporary leases. However, in its 106th and 107th board meetings, the authority approved a 'Policy-2018' for granting long-term leases of flats intended for permanent employees of the Bangladesh Bridge Authority and associated departments and projects.
The ACC also noted that the required publication of a government gazette for this policy was overlooked, suggesting a breach of protocol. They alleged that the accused individuals formulated an unlawful policy, thereby committing offences punishable under sections 409, 420, and 109 of the Penal Code, as well as section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.