SC clears way for graft probe in haor embankment

The Supreme Court has paved way for resuming investigation into graft and negligence in embankment of haor regions in Sunamganj that gave way and caused flash flood in April last year.

It stayed a previous High Court order that kept halted the proceedings of the case, asking the lower court to dispose the rule placed on Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in this regard.

A five-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah, performing functions of the chief justice, passed the order after hearing a leave to appeal petition filed by the ACC against the High Court order.

ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told The Daily Star today there is no legal bar for the commission to run the investigation into the corruption case following the apex court’s order.

The ACC filed the corruption case with Sunamganj Sadar Police Station on July 2 last year against 61 people for negligence and corruption in construction of the embankment.

Following a petition filed by Bangladesh Water Development Board Contractor Bachchu Mia, who is an accused of the case, the High Court on December 12 last year stayed the proceedings of the case and issued the rule asking the ACC to explain why the proceedings should not be scrapped.