Sources said that during interrogation, detained Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Osman Gani alleged that the former adviser (when in office) used to take bribe for issuing transfer orders or withholding transfer of forest officials, and helped a private company obtain allotment of khas land from the land ministry.

Moreover, there are allegations that Fazlul Haque used to transfer officials for money when he was law and land adviser.

When contacted, Fazlul Haque has rejected the allegations outright terming those imaginary, motivated, cooked up and baseless.

According to sources, the CCF and some Bashundhara Group officials told interrogators that the former adviser had taken Tk 1.25 crore in bribe from two forest officials and a private company. The two officials gave him Tk 80 lakh -- one to get transferred to his preferred place and the other to stall his transfer from a place of his choice.

Bashundhara Group gave him Tk 45 lakh to get 84 acres of khas land allotted to it in exchange for some scattered lands of the group.

The then forest secretary Haider Ali, administrative officer of land ministry Kutub Uddin, and Fazlul Haque's son-in-law Prince allegedly mediated the bribery.

Shamsul Azam, assistant chief conservator of forests, education and training branch, Dhaka, gave Tk 30 lakh to the adviser to stall his transfer to Dhaka from Chittagong in October last year. He was then working as District Forest Officer (DFO) in Chittagong.

The money was handed over through Haider to the adviser at his Mintoo Road official residence in November last year. Haider Ali took Tk 10 lakh for the mediation. The present caretaker government made Haider officer on special duty (OSD).

Atikul Azam, DFO in Noakhali, gave the adviser Tk 50 lakh to get transferred to Chittagong circle. Prince allegedly mediated the bribery. Atiqul was transferred to Chittagong circle from Noakhali as conservator of forest in January this year.

BASHUNDHARA GROUP
Sources said East West Property Development of Bashundhara Group had applied to the land ministry to get 84 acres of khas land under Keraniganj mouja allotted to Bashundhara Riverview Project in exchange for some of their scattered land.

As Bashundhara authorities lobbied with officials of the land ministry for the allotment, Kutub Uddin met the adviser with the proposal that owner of Bashundhara Group Ahmed Akbar Sobhan is eager to provide Tk 1 crore for this.

Following the adviser's consent, the settled amount was paid through a cheque by manager of East West Property Development Liakat Hossain. Kutub deposited the money in the account of his younger brother Lokman Mahmud.

Tk 45 lakh in 90 bundles of Tk 500 note was drawn from the account several days later and kept in the almirah of Kutub's office at the land ministry. Later, he took the money to the adviser's residence.

Law enforcers have confirmed the allegations after questioning some officials of Bashundhara Group and an official of land ministry and examining several bank accounts, the sources added.

FAZLUL HAQUE' VERSION
Fazlul Haque said that as CCF, he (Gani) could have discussed with him issues concerning forest department. But how could he know so much in detail about an incident in land ministry. "I swear I do not know even a single person of Bashundhara."

Haque went on, "The forest official might have made the allegation either to save himself or to take revenge on me."

Explaining the reason for taking revenge, the former adviser said while in office, he had once called the CCF to his office and rebuked him over cutting of trees and encroaching on forestland in Kalioakoir. He had also warned him (CCF) that he would inform the president about the matter and remove him, if necessary.

In reply to a question, he said, "Prince is my only son-in-law and he lives in London. He is implicated in the incident but he does not know anybody involved in it."

He added, "I came to know about the allegations through newspaper reports. I suspect those whoever gave the information to newspapers."