Efforts on to protect corrupt ‘big fish’
Leaders of Biman Sramik League yesterday alleged that efforts are on to protect the Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ “big fish” involved in corruption and irregularities.
They also claimed names of seven Biman Sramik League leaders have been sent to Anti-Corruption Commission with the aim of shielding the corrupt individuals and diverting public attention.
“ACC in March gave a clean chit to Biman Sramik League-CBA leaders and closed their six-year-long investigation against them. The ACC team didn’t find evidence of corruption or amassing of illegal wealth after verifying wealth and properties of Biman CBA (collective bargaining agent) leaders,” said Md Mosikur Rahman, president of Biman Sramik League, at a press conference at Biman’s head office in Kurmitola.
“But within 15 days of giving the clean chit, names of Biman Sramik League leaders were sent to ACC on charge of their involvement in corruption and irregularities,” he said.
“Biman has 6,000 officials and staff members. Why are Biman Sramik League leaders particularly being harassed repeatedly without any specific allegation?” he questioned.
He said corruption in leasing aircrafts, engineering, maintenance, and ticket selling is a hot topic of late.
“That’s why efforts are on to divert people’s attention,” he said, adding, “We want to cooperate with ACC to drive out corruption from Biman.” ACC needs to identify the real culprits, he said.
ACC on May 2 urged the Special Branch of Police to take steps to prevent the recently removed managing director of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, AM Mosaddique Ahmed, and nine others from leaving the country.
The nine others are President of Biman Sramik League and Junior Ground Service Officer Mushikur Rahman; Ground Service Supervisors GM Zakir Hossain, Mizanur Rahman and AKM Masum Billah; Commercial Supervisors Rafiqul Alam and Golam Kaysar Ahmed; Junior Commercial Officer Maruf Mehedi Hasan; and Commercial Officers Jawed Tarik Khan and Mafuzur Karim Siddique.
In a letter to Special Branch of Police, ACC said Mosaddique and the other Biman officials were being investigated for amassing wealth illegally and misusing power. ACC has requested police to take necessary steps in this regard.
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