The Anti-Corruption Commission on Wednesday filed a case against five people, including former Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur vice-chancellors Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah and AKM Nur-un-Nabi, on charges of embezzling Tk 4 crore from a development project through corruption.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge court on the day ordered the Anti-Corruption Commission to freeze a huge number of shares owned by the NASSA Group chairman Nazrul Islam Mazumder鈥檚 wife, Nasrin Islam, in 55 companies and to seize her two Mohakhali DOHS flats over graft allegations. ACC director general (prevention) Md Akhter Hossain said that the commission filed a case against the five people, including the two former BRUR vice-chancellors, following approval of the commission.
The other accused in the case are former executive engineer and member secretary of the tender evaluation committee Md Jahangir Alam, M/s Md Abdus Salam contractor firm proprietor A Salam Bacchu and M/s Habib and Co contractor firm proprietor MM Habibur Rahman.
According to ACC findings, the accused altered the original design of the approved development project proposal without approval, signed contracts worth over Tk聽30 crore without obtaining ministry clearance, and allowed the use of university-issued 鈥榥o objection certificates鈥� for loans against fixed deposit receipts meant for security deposits, resulting in the misuse of public funds.
Although, there was no provision for advance payments in the contract, an advance payment of Tk聽4 crore was made to the contractor against a bank guarantee, which was released before bill adjustment.
Moreover, the original design by the first consulting firm was discarded, and a second consultant was appointed in violation of public procurement rules, said the ACC findings. Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Jakir Hossain on Wednesday ordered the ACC to freeze the shares owned by Nasrin Islam and to seize her two flats.
According to the ACC petition, a case has already been filed against Nasrin on charges of amassing illegal wealth worth Tk聽20.26 crore and keeping those under her possession.
It also said that the accused was trying to sell, transfer or hand over the properties to evade justice.
If she manages to sell or hand over the properties, it will cause a loss to the state. So the properties should immediately be attached and frozen, the petition said.
Meanwhile, the same court has imposed a travel ban on four people, including Mahtab Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, chairman and managing director of Falcon International Knit Composite Ltd and ABC Knit Dyeing and Finishing Mills, amid an ongoing inquiry into corruption allegations.
Judge Md Jakir Hossain issued the order following a petition filed by Bilkis Akter, assistant director of the ACC.
The three other people facing the ban on leaving the country are the company鈥檚 directors Mahbuba Hasnat Mahin Chowdhury, Md Fazlul Karim and Md Minhajul Islam.
According to the ACC petition, the four are under inquiry for allegedly misappropriating Tk聽478 crore in collusion with each other.
Seeking the travel ban, the ACC informed the court that the accused were attempting to flee the country.
