Relief Minister Maya, Food Minister Qamrul should quit
Says TIB chief
Relief and Disaster Management Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya and Food Minister Qamrul Islam should resign amid the corruption allegations against them, TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said yesterday.
He said the two ministers should submit their resignation on their own to set an example, adding that it was his personal opinion.
The top official of the Transparency International Bangladesh, an anti-graft watchdog, made the comment when journalists at a press briefing drew his attention to the graft allegations against the two top Awami League leaders.
In February 2008, a special court sentenced Maya to 13 years' jail for illegally amassing wealth worth Tk 6.29 crore and concealing assets worth Tk 5.9 crore. The court also fined the AL leader Tk 5 crore. In October 2010, the HC cleared him of the charges.
But on June 14 this year, the Supreme Court scrapped the HC judgment and directed it to hold further hearing, and dispose of Maya's appeal challenging the lower court verdict.
On the allegation, Iftekharuzzaman said in such cases resignation of political leaders increases their acceptability among people and helps keep the trial free of influence.
He also urged the government to conduct an unbiased investigation into the import and distribution of “sub-standard” wheat from Brazil by the food ministry headed by Qamrul.
Meanwhile, the BNP also demanded Qamrul's resignation yesterday, accusing him of importing “rotten” wheat from Brazil.
MAYA SERVED NOTICE
Maya was served a legal notice yesterday over his legitimacy as a lawmaker and a minister.
The notice asked him to explain within 24 hours under what authority he was holding his office after the apex court annulled his acquittal in a graft case.
Eunus Ali Akond, a SC lawyer, served the notice on Maya in “public interest”, claiming that the Al leader had no right to hold the posts of a MP and a minister following the court verdict.
The lawyer told The Daily Star that he would file a writ petition with the HC, seeking necessary directives over the matter if Maya failed to respond to the legal notice within the given time.