Eight BNP leaders face graft probe

The Anti-Corruption Commission has opened an enquiry into eight BNP leaders over alleged involvement in money laundering and amassing of wealth illegally.

They are BNP standing committee members Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, Nazrul Islam Khan and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury; vice chairmen Abdul Awal Mintoo and Morshed Khan; Executive Committee Member Tabith Awal, and Joint Secretary General Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel are being investigated, according to ACC Director (Enquiry and Investigation) Kazi Safikul Alam.

Morshed Khan's son Foysal Morshed and Dhaka Bank Managing Director Syed Mahbubur Rahman are also being investigated, he added.

The ACC yesterday appointed its Deputy Director Shamsul Alam as enquiry officer. “I'm scanning the allegations. It's too early to make any comment,” he said.

Contacted, ACC Chairman Iqbal Mahmood said, “I have no idea about it. I'm not supposed to know about it.

“When complaints are made, it is scanned by a committee and put up before the commissioner [enquiry]. If he approves and it turns into a case, then it comes to me.”

The Daily Star contacted ACC Commissioner Nasiruddin Ahmed but he declined to make any comment.

After the conviction of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in February in the Zia Orphanage graft case, this is the first move the ACC made against any top BNP leader.

Contacted, Nazrul Islam Khan said the ACC is carrying out political agenda of the government to weaken the BNP and keep its leaders away from their movement.

“It's unfortunate and unexpected. It tarnishes the image of the ACC,” he said.

Khandakar Mosharraf said the ACC launched the enquiry based on a report of a “little-known news portal”.  He alleged that the ACC has become a political weapon of the government.

“Several thousand crores of taka were looted from banks, and the ACC could do nothing. But they' are after BNP leaders based on a report of a news portal.”

Abdul Awal Mintoo said a news item was published on March 17 in online portal Bangla Insider and that is baseless.

The ACC director said the report of the news portal is a part of their enquiry. “We'll seek information from Bangladesh Bank whether such transactions had taken place,” he said.