How could an IGP possess so much wealth?

A High Court bench yesterday expressed astonishment at the amassing of huge wealth by former IGP Benazir Ahmed.

"Irregularities and corruption of a government official are being discussed and criticised at home and abroad. How could an inspector general of police become the owner of so much wealth? We are stunned," the HC bench of Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Khizir Hayat Lizu said during the hearing on a writ petition regarding the construction of eight bridges in Jashore.

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Three government engineers, including the chief engineer of the Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED), appeared before the HC bench yesterday to explain their positions on the construction of the bridges as per its previous directive.

The HC told the engineers that they must work in the interest of the country and that the court would look into the irregularities if they committed any.

It also directed the authorities concerned to complete the construction of the bridges in next six months maintaining the appropriate height clearance in accordance with relevant rules, petitioner's lawyer M Shamsul Haque told The Daily Star.

Iqbal Kabir Zahid, an adviser to Bhairab River Reform Movement, filed the writ petition with the HC following a report run by Bangla daily Prothom Alo on June 11 last year under the headline "River Killing" due to low-height bridges in Jashore.

Following the petition, the HC on November 27 last year directed the officials concerned to maintain appropriate height clearance of the bridges as per the Inland Waterway and Embankment Construction Control Rules, and to submit a report to this court through an affidavit.