ACC boss bins graft allegations against him
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury yesterday said allegations brought against him by former Board of Investment executive chairman and Amar Desh Publications Ltd Chairman Mahmudur Rahman may have resulted from complaints about anti-graft drives.
Rejecting the allegations, he said he would not file any defamation case at this moment but would fight if the matter goes to legal stage.
Hasan Mashhud denied Mahmudur's allegation of illegally legalising establishments at Defence Officers' Housing Society (DOHS) in Mohakhali, saying everything was done in accordance with the rules of cantonment.
"I want to state it plainly that the allegations brought against me are not true in any way. You can get information from Trust Bank Ltd on the matter that took place four years ago," he said at a press briefing at the ACC headquarters yesterday.
On Saturday, Mahmudur Rahman attempted to file a case against the ACC chief on charge of laundering Tk 20.29 crore from Trust Bank.
Ramna police refused to record the case, saying they are not the appropriate police station to do it while Motijheel police also refused Mahmudur Rahman, saying his complaint lacks Bangladesh Bank approval.
"Somebody might have complaints about our drives against corruption. And the allegation might have resulted out of it," he told reporters when asked why such an allegation was brought against him.
"The allegation is one-sided. Time has not come yet to look into the matter or think about it deeply," he said in reply to a question about the possibility of filing any defamation case.
Asked if the allegation will make his position as the ACC chief untenable, Hasan Mashhud said, "Not at all. The fight against graft is not supposed to end so easily. Anybody can bring allegation against anyone. If you do not refute the allegations, it might be taken for granted that they are true. But the chance should not be given...And definitely I will fight legally."
He also brushed aside any allegation regarding his influence over police for not recording the case.
"The bank incurred the loss at that time following mistakes of some bank officials in the foreign currency exchange sector," he said, adding that an investigation was conducted and two cases were filed in this connection.
Asked if any responsibility lies upon him for the loss, he said, "Trust Bank has to take the responsibility. You can check Bangladesh Bank rules and regulations to see what the responsibilities of a chairman or a managing director of a bank are."
The ACC chief, however, mentioned that if the matter of money laundering were taken before the commission, it would look into the allegations. "But it has to be confirmed earlier whether money laundering has taken place or not," he added.
"There is nothing to hide regarding this matter because a few newspapers carried reports on it at that time," he said.
Replying to a question on his role, as reported by a newspaper, in legalising illegal establishments at DOHS, Hasan Mashhud said, "The DOHS committee took a decision regarding the houses built in that area violating rules...It is better to have compensation to regularise an illegal matter rather than accepting it permanently." The cantonment has its official system to regularise such activities, he added.
Asked if it was right to legalise illegal establishments for compensation and if there should be different laws in a country for different quarters, he said, "I do not think our rule should be maintained everywhere. Authorities concerned can take decision in this regard.”
Comments