Dhaka: The High Court has sought the progress report of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) committee investigating the allegations of irregularities-corruption, abuse of power and acquisition of illegal assets by the former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed. The committee has been asked to report within two months.
At the end of the hearing of the writ petition on Tuesday (April 23), Justice Md. The High Court bench of Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Kazi Ibadat Hossain gave the order. Advocates Sarwar Hossain and Manoj Kumar Bhowmik heard the writ petition in court.
Senior lawyer Shah Manjurul Haque and Md. heard on behalf of Benazir Ahmed. Syed Ahmed Raja. Senior lawyer Md. heard on behalf of the ACC. Khurshid Alam Khan. Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik represented the state.
Last Sunday, Supreme Court lawyer Salah Uddin Regan filed a writ in the High Court challenging the inaction of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in investigating the irregularities-corruption and abuse of power of the former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed.
Kal Kantha published an investigative report on March 31 under the title ‘Aladdin’s Lamp in Benazir’s House’. Two days later, on April 2, it published the second phase of its investigative report titled ‘Benazir’s resort in forest land’.
The writ petitioner said the Commission can initiate inquiry on its own initiative under Section 17(c) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004. But despite the publication of two investigative reports on Benazir Ahmed’s irregularities and corruption, abuse of power, the commission did not take the initiative to investigate. That is why I wrote a letter to the ACC chairman on April 4 and requested him to take the initiative to investigate. As this did not work, I gave a legal notice to the defendants on April 18. Request for ex officio inquiry within three days of receipt of notice. I filed a writ petition challenging the inaction of the commission without getting the usual response.
ACC Chairman, Commissioner (Investigation), Commissioner (Investigation) and ACC Secretary have been made respondents in the writ. Besides seeking direction of inquiry, writ is sought.
The writ has sought a ruling as to why the inaction and failure of the defendants in implementing section 17(c) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004 regarding the self-initiated investigation of the complaint against Benazir Ahmed in the report published in Dainik Kal Kanth should not be declared outside the legal authority.
Section 17(c) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, entitled ‘Functions of the Commission’, provides that the Commission may investigate the complaint on its own initiative or on application by the aggrieved person or any other person on his behalf.
The investigation report published by Kal Kant on the behind-the-scenes irregularities-corruption and abuse of power in the acquisition of huge wealth of the former police chief Benazir Ahmed received a wide response at home and abroad. The international media also reported citing these two reports. Habiganj-4 Constituency Member of Parliament and Supreme Court lawyer Syed Sayedul Haque Sumon applied to the commission chairman’s office on Sunday (April 21) to conduct a voluntary investigation based on these reports.
In Suman’s application, Benazir Ahmed as well as his wife Jisan Mirza, two daughters Farhin Rishta bint Benazir and Tashin Raisa bint Benazir have been investigated and requested to take action. Lawyer Salah Uddin Regan has resorted to the High Court by applying for a writ.
Bangladesh Time: 1703 hours, April 23, 2024
ES/MJ
