'False Padma Stories': HC asks for report on probe move

The High Court yesterday directed the government to submit a report before it on the progress in forming an enquiry commission to identify the “culprits who made up false stories” about a corruption conspiracy involving the Padma Bridge project.

The home secretary and the cabinet secretary will have to submit the progress report before the HC by May 9, Deputy Attorney General Tapas Kumar Biswas told The Daily Star.

The HC bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Mohammad Ullah passed the order during hearing of a suo moto rule issued by it on February 15.

In the rule, the HC asked the respondents to explain in two weeks why they should not be directed to form an enquiry commission or committee to identify the “culprits who made up false stories” about the corruption conspiracy.

The court also asked them to show causes as to why they should not be ordered to bring those behind such stories to book.

Secretaries to the ministries of cabinet, home and communications, the chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission and the inspector general of police have been made respondents to the rule.

The HC also directed the cabinet secretary to submit a report on the steps to be taken in line with the rule before it in 30 days.

Yesterday, DAG Tapash prayed to the HC on behalf of cabinet and home secretaries to grant eight weeks' time for complying with its February 15 order.

The HC bench issued the suo moto rule and order following reports published in Daily Inqilab and some other print and electronic media on the Padma Bridge construction and corruption allegation.

Daily Inqilab on February 14 published a report headlined “Yunus er bichar dabi” (demand for trial of Yunus) with a subheading “Bishwa Bank O TIB er khoma chawar Ahban” (World Bank and Transparency International Bangladesh urged to offer apology).

The report said the ruling Awami League and its like-minded political parties became vocal after the Canadian court had dismissed the corruption case regarding Padma Bridge construction project.