Mosharraf questions WB role

DHAKA: Former Secretary of the Bridge Division Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan on Thursday questioned in the authenticity of the activities of World Bank (WB) of sending several high officials on leave.

The former secretary raised the question of WB’s legality of taking such steps against the citizens of Bangladesh, while he was talking to reporters after a 5-hour-quizzing by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

The quizzing began on Thursday at the ACC office at capital’s Segun Bagicha.

“Names of several WB officials, who were accused of the same incident, also sent to the WB through e-mail,” he said.

“But, taking no measures against them, on which authority the WB sent Bangladeshi citizens for leave?” he put question.

Prior to this, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) recorded statement of three persons, including Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, for their alleged involvement in corruption of appointing adviser in Padma Bridge project on Thursday.

ACC also quizzed Superintendent Engineer Kazi Muhammad Ferdous and Engineer Kamruzzaman in the same allegation.

Bringing graft allegation, World Bank in September in 2011 put off the loan deal with the government for Padma Bridge project.

To fulfill the conditions of WB, Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain, Prime Minister’s Economic Affairs Adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman, Bridge Division Former Secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, among others, were sent on leave.

The ACC will take statement of BRAC University Former Vice-Chancellor (VC) Professor Jamilur Reza Chowdhury and BUET Professor AMM Shafiullah in this matter on Sunday.

It (ACC) will also quiz Former Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain, Former State Minister for Foreign Affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury on Monday.

BDST: 1935 HRS, NOV 29, 2012
Edited By: Palash Rahman, Newsroom Editor/ M. Mahbub Alam, Asst Output Editor
eic@banglanews24.com