News on BASIC Bank: HC rule sought on graft in recruitment

An application was filed with the High Court yesterday seeking its suo moto (voluntary) order on the government, to conduct an inquiry into alleged corruption in appointments of 1,173 employees in BASIC Bank during the chairmanship of chairman Sheikh Abdul Hye Bacchu.

Advocate Titus Hillol Rema submitted the application, requesting the HC to ask for the audit report of the auditor and comptroller general’s office, that has revealed huge irregularities and nepotism in the appointments of officials and employees of BASIC Bank between 2012 and 2014.

He also prayed to the HC to summon Sheikh Abdul Hye Bacchu, the then chairman of BASIC Bank, to appear before it for his explanation on the matter. The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Sardar Md Rashed Jahangir may hold hearing on the application today, the petitioner told this newspaper.

The petition was submitted following two reports -- published on Bangla daily Samakal and private television channel Channel 24 on November 29 -- on irregularities in appointing of 1,173 employees in BASIC Bank.

In the application, the lawyer urged the HC to issue a rule asking respondents to explain why the media reports should not be taken into consideration for inquiring into the corruption allegations in the appointments.

He requested the HC to include secretaries to the cabinet division and finance and banking division of the finance ministry, governor of Bangladesh Bank, comptroller and auditor general, chairman of Anti-Corruption Commission, chairman of BASIC Bank, and Sheikh Abdul Hye Bacchu as respondents to the prayed rule.