Local govt div tops list

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has registered the highest number of graft allegations against the officials and public representatives of Local Government Division (LGD) through its newly launched hotline service.

Out of 483 allegations, ACC registered 85 allegations against LGD whereas 80 graft allegations were made against the officials in the education sector.

“People made allegations against local chairmen, members, officials and staff of LGD for misappropriating government wealth and seeking bribes,” said ACC Public Relations Officer Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya. 

Regarding the education sector, which took second spot in terms of total number of allegations, he said, “Aggrieved persons made allegations that bribes were sought over transfer and appointment of officials.”

There are instances that teachers sought bribes on various occasions, he added. People also called ACC's hotline 106 to file complaints of corruption against the police officers.

ACC launched the hotline on July 27, and until yesterday a total of 1, 71,000 calls were made to the commission.

The graft watchdog has already forwarded 28 allegations to different ministries and government officers to take necessary legal actions.

“People made various kinds of allegations but we could register only the allegations that fall under the purview of ACC's act,” Pranab said.

Upon receiving allegations, in the last 42 days, ACC sent their special teams to various government offices. They have beefed up their surveillance at these offices, Pranab said.   

ACC got 18 allegations against district and upazila administrations, 15 against health department, 20 against land offices, four against accounts offices, two against civil aviation, two against social service division, 12 against department of housing and Rajuk, six against National Board of Revenue, nine against power distribution offices, five against Roads and Highways Department, 11 against banks, six against Water Development Board, four against BRTA, three against department of railway, five against department of relief, and three against department of food. The rest were made against individuals and various offices.

Meanwhile, on August 30, ACC issued a notice to an additional chief engineer of Roads and Highways Department (RHD) AQM Ikram Ullah and his family members to submit their wealth statements before it within seven working days, said Pranab.

ACC sought the wealth statements as it is conducting an enquiry into the allegations against Ikram and his family members of "amassing huge wealth illegally". Quoting the notice, Pranab said the  graft watchdog asked Ikram, his wife Atia Khatun, son Sakib Ikram and daughter Anika Ikram to submit the wealth statements, citing their sources of income. The notice was signed by ACC Deputy Director Mahfuza Khatun.