ACC probe finds proof to press charges against Khaleda, Tarique

An Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) investigation into the Tk 2.10 crore embezzlement case against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, her elder son Tarique Rahman and five other people has found enough evidence against the accused.
The report recommended bringing charges against former principal secretary to the prime minister Dr Kamaluddin Ahmed Siddiqui too, sources said.
Investigation Officer Harunur Rashid, also a deputy assistant director at the ACC, submitted the probe report (memo of evidence) to the commission on September 10.
ACC Director General (Admin) Col Hanif Iqbal at a routine press briefing yesterday confirmed getting the report.
The commission had sued Khaleda, Tarique and five other people on July 3 on charges of embezzling Tk 2.10 crore in the name of phoney Zia Orphanage Trust.
"The commission will not divert its focus when there is enough evidence to prove the allegations," an ACC official requesting anonymity said on whether the watchdog would press charges against the accused in the event.
The other accused in the case are former BNP lawmaker Kazi Salimul Haque, Syed Ahmed alias Sayeed Ahmed, Gias Uddin Ahmed, Sharfuddin Ahmed and Khaleda's nephew Mominur Rahman.
On implicating Kamaluddin Siddiqui, the ACC official said, "When the prime minister stands accused of graft, it follows that her principal secretary had involvement in it."
Kamaluddin was not accused in the first information report (FIR) because no enquiry was conducted against him at the time, he said.
Col Iqbal told the press briefing that the commission has decided in principle to soon approve charge sheets against Khaleda, her 10 cabinet members and five other people in the Barapukuria coalmine case.
The September 16 investigation report on the scam recommended bringing charges against them.