Chattogram:The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has initiated legal action against S. M. Tofail Bin Hossain, the former mayor of Banshkhali Municipality, for allegedly approving 174 building designs without following government protocols, which require recommendations from a designated committee.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the case was filed on Sunday by ACC Deputy Assistant Director Tapchhir Billah at the commission's Chattogram Integrated District Office-2. The investigation, led initially by another officer, concluded with a report recommending legal proceedings. The ACC headquarters sanctioned the case on October 5, after which Tapchhir Billah was tasked with filing the First Information Report (FIR).
The former mayor is accused under Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947. ACC Deputy Director Md. Riaz Uddin stated that the investigation's findings could implicate additional individuals in the irregularities, prompting further inquiries.
The FIR details that Tofail Bin Hossain, who served as mayor from February 14, 2022, to August 18, 2024, approved a total of 267 building designs during his tenure. A circular from the Local Government Division, dated June 22, 2017, mandates that an 11-member committee, led by the mayor, must review and recommend approval for building plans. This committee is required to convene quarterly, yet it only met twice under Hossain's leadership, approving 89 designs while the other 174 received approval without committee recommendations.
The FIR also accuses Hossain of abusing his authority for personal gain or to benefit others. The ACC's interest in this case emerged from a broader investigation into corruption allegations against a previous Banshkhali mayor, Selimul Haque Chowdhury, which revealed irregularities in building plan approvals during Tofail Bin Hossain's tenure.