The Anti-Corruption Commission on Sunday filed a case against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 16 others over alleged irregularities in the toll collection contract on the Meghna-Gomti Bridge.
The contract reportedly caused a financial loss of over Tk 309 crore to the state, according to the case statement.
ACC assistant director Tanjil Hasan filed the case with its integrated district office in Dhaka-1, said the commission鈥檚 assistant director for public relations Tanzir Ahmed.
The accused include former road transport and bridge minister Obaidul Quader, former industries minister Amir Hossain Amu, former commerce聽 minister Tofail Ahmed, former local government minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, former law minister Anisul Huq, and former state minister for finance and planning M A Mannan.
The other accused are former secretary MAN Siddique, former additional secretary Md Faruk Jalil, former deputy secretary Mohammad Shafiqul Karim, former chief engineers Md Firoz Iqbal and Ibne Alam Hasan, former additional chief engineers Md Aftab Hossain Khan and Md Abdus Salam, and Computer Network Systems Limited managing director Munir Uz Zaman Chowdhury and directors Selina Chowdhury and Ikram Iqbal.
According to ACC findings, the accused in collusion with each other abused their official power and embezzled state funds through fraudulent means -- an offence punishable under the Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The complaint stated that the 2016 tender process that had appointed CNS Limited as the toll collection operator for the Meghna-Gomti Bridge was manipulated by intentionally cancelling previous bids and inviting a single-source tender.
The authorities then signed a five-year agreement solely with CNS without engaging in any negotiations with other bidders.
Under the contract, instead of a fixed amount, the company was paid a 17.75 per cent service charge (excluding VAT and income tax) on the total toll collected.
CNS reportedly received Tk 489.43 crore in bills under the five-year contract between 2016 and 2020.
In comparison, the toll collection for the bridge was managed by MBEL-ATTI for only Tk 15.58 crore between 2010 and 2015.
Later, for the 2022鈥�2025 period, UDC Construction Limited was awarded the contract for Tk 67.54 crore -- including VAT and tax -- which, when converted to a five-year term, amounted to Tk 112.58 crore.
CNS also claimed an additional Tk 67.43 crore for 鈥榥ew technology installation and infrastructure expenses鈥�, said the ACC findings.
Based on a comparative analysis, the commission found that awarding the contract to CNS caused the government a total financial loss of approximately Tk 309.42 crore.
The ACC also alleged that CNS officials, along with several officers of the Roads and Highways Department, the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry, and members of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase, were engaged in collusion to carry out the irregularities.
Amid a student-led mass uprising, Sheikh Hasina fled to India on August 5, 2024, ending the Awami League鈥檚 15-year rule in the country.
Following the ouster of the AL regime, the Anti-Corruption Commission began inquiries into allegations of various irregularities against Hasina and her family members.
Between January 12 and 14 this year, the anti-graft body filed six separate cases against Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana and other family members over irregularities in the allocation of six plots to them in the Purbachal New Town project.
On July 31, two Dhaka special judge courts framed charges against 29 people, including Hasina, Rehana, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Saima Wazed Putul, Radwan Siddique Bobby, Tulip Siddique, and Azmina Siddique, in the six cases.
On December 17, 2024, the commission also launched an inquiry into allegations against Hasina, Sajeeb, Rehana, and Tulip over embezzlement and corruption involving Tk 80,000 crore in nine mega projects.
Later, on December 22 the same year, the commission decided to start another inquiry into allegations against Hasina and Sajeeb over laundering $300 million abroad.