An ACC team yesterday arrested SM Nazmul Huq, chief engineer and surveyor of the Department of Shipping, while he was allegedly taking a bribe of Tk 5 lakh for approving a ship's design.

Around nine months ago, the Anti-Corruption Commission had caught the former chief engineer of the same department for taking bribe.

Nazmul allegedly demanded Tk 15 lakh in bribe after one Imam Hasan of Syed Shipping Lines approached him for the approval of the design, said ACC Assistant Director Abdul Wadud.

On being informed by Imam, the corruption watchdog, decided to catch Nazmul red-handed, he said.

Yesterday, Imam, as planned, met Nazmul at a restaurant in Segunbagicha area and gave him Tk 5 lakh as the “first instalment”. The ACC team members arrived in the scene and arrested Nazmul along with the money, Wadud said.

The Daily Star could not verify the claim independently.

On July 18, 2017, ACC arrested former chief engineer AKM Fakhrul Islam while he was taking bribe from Bengal Marine and Engineering Services.

A month later, he was suspended and Nazmul was appointed to the post.

ACC last evening filed a case against Nazmul with Ramna Model Police Station, said Wadud.

OFFICIALS FACE WRATH OF ACC BOSS

ACC Chairman Iqbal Mahmood yesterday criticised officials for their failure in arresting some accused in graft cases.

“How do they [graft accused] roam around disregarding the law? Each accused of the graft case must be brought to justice law,” he said.

Iqbal was addressing an ACC meeting.

“ACC, in the last two years, has arrested over 600 persons. But there are many accused who are still moving freely without surrendering before the court,” he said.