Bacchu was involved in BASIC loan scam: Muhith
Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday reiterated that former chairman of BASIC Bank Abdul Hye Bacchu was involved in the Tk 4,500 crore loan scam.
The investigation report on the scam has already been submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission, he said.
“Now let's see what the next course of action would be,” he said. The central bank's investigation revealed that Bacchu was involved in various scams, Muhith said.
The minister spoke at an award giving ceremony organised by the commission at Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka to recognise the contribution of the “Best Corruption Prevention Committees” of districts and upazilas. He suggested politicians and government officials refrain from corruption. “Corruption is reducing gradually. If it continues, it will be the greatest satisfaction of my life,” Muhith said, adding that the ACC is working independently.
ACC awarded the district committees of Sylhet, Jamalpur and Narsingdi and upazila committees of Juri, Chhatak, Bishnupur, Gafargaon, Dewanganj, Gouripur, Savar, Sonargaon and Rajoir for their performance in preventing corruption. In its year-long enquiry, the ACC could not find the involvement of the bank's then chairman Bacchu, who allegedly masterminded the biggest banking fraud in Bangladesh in August 2015. In September 2015, the commission filed 56 cases accusing a total of 110 people and organisations for gross loan irregularities.
In January 2016, the parliamentary standing committee on finance ministry blasted ACC for failing to expose the corruption committed by Bacchu. Earlier, ACC Chairman Iqbal Mahmood said the BASIC Bank loan scam took place in a complicated manner and that is why the commission is taking time to find the main culprits.
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