Party men demand punishment of ex-BNP MP in Magura

Quazi Salimul Huq

Party men now demand punishment of former BNP lawmaker from Magura-2 constituency Quazi Salimul Huq alias Quazi Kamal, accusing him of tarnishing party image by allegedly being involved in corruption, bribery and tender manipulation.
They are now raising voices for action against Kamal after Judge Mohammad Azizul Huq of Metroplitan Sessions Judge's court in Dhaka on September 16 ordered attachment of Salimul's properties for not appearing before the court in a case.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case against detained former state minister for communications Salahuddin Ahmed and Quazi Kamal with Shahbag police station in Dhaka on May 29 alleging that they took Tk 1 crore bribe from contractor Mir Zahir Hossain to help him get a business, according to earlier newspaper reports.
Quazi Kamal, convener of Magura district BNP, is on the run since filing of the case. Law enforcers failed to arrest him despite several raids in his residence of Gulshan in Dhaka.
Earlier on September 11, the same court had issued arrest warrant against him following a plea submitted by the investigation officer (IO) in a Tk 1 crore bribery case.
On September 9, ACC Assistant Director Ashraful Islam, IO of the case, submitted the charge sheet against the two to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) court in Dhaka.
This correspondent talked to several front ranking leaders of BNP and its fronts. Most of them demanded his punishment for his alleged involvement in crimes and sheltering criminals.
“Kamal formed a syndicate in the name of negotiation committee to manipulate tenders of different government offices and earned money”, said former minister and BNP central executive committee member Nitai Roy Chowdhury.
“He should be taught a good lesson as he and his cronies abused power and committed crimes. Party men will not own the irregularities done by him”, Nitai said.
Magura municipal BNP president Faruk Ahmed Babul said, “Legal steps against him was expected as he (Quazi Kamal) abused power by using his links with party's senior joint secretary Tariq Rahman and former state minister for home affairs. But it was delayed for reasons unknown”.
A front ranking of Magura sadar BNP seeking anonymity alleged that Quazi Kamal inducted infamous outlaw Ali Ahmed Biswas into the party and made him district BNP secretary. He should have faced action for this and other corruption and irregularities, he said.
BNP should not defend and stand by him as he disorganised and defamed the party, he said.
Quazi Kamal, chairman of Econo Ball Pen Industries, joined BNP in 1994 and became a lawmaker from Magura-2 constituency in the bi-election held following the death of Awami League (AL) lawmaker Asaduzzaman. He lost to AL candidate advocate Biren Sikder in 1996 election but won the seat in 2001.
Being elected, Kamal sidelined honest and dedicated leaders and inducted terrorists in the party, the BNP leaders alleged.
Ali Ahmed Biswas was arrested by army during 'operation clean heart', an anti-crime drive launched in 2000.
Allegations have it that professional contractors could not buy or drop any schedule as Quazi Kamal's syndicate manipulated tendering process.
The syndicate illegally realised 16 per cent of estimated costs of development works implemented by LGED, PWD and Roads & Highways Department, some aggrieved BNP leaders and contractors alleged while talking to this correspondent.
Six percent of the total realised money was deposited with the account of 'Quazi Salima Huq Trust', a social welfare body named after the mother of Quazi Kamal while the rest 10 percent was deposited with banks in the name of party, they said.
The tender manipulation syndicate styled 'negotiation committee' was formed comprising pro-BNP contractors and district BNP's high ranking leaders, sources in intelligence and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) informed.
ACC Deputy Director Abdul Gaffar when contacted said, “We received some allegations regarding former lawmaker Quazi Salimul Huq's alleged involvement in tender manipulation and those have been sent to higher authorities for directive”.