ACC probing graft allegations against Jahangir

The Anti-Corruption Commission has received complaints of irregularities involving Tk 7,800 crore against Mohammad Jahangir Alam, suspended mayor of Gazipur City Corporation.

As per the complaints, the irregularities took place during his tenure of over three years as the mayor, Ashiqur Rahman, assistant director of the ACC, told reporters yesterday.

He said this while visiting the city corporation as a member of a probe team formed to investigate the allegations against the suspended mayor.

ACC Deputy Director Ali Akbar is at the helm of the team.

Ashiqur further said the probe team will investigate the to find out whether there were any discrepancies between the actual expense of the Biswa Ijtema arrangements and what is written in the expenditure voucher.

"We will also probe the 'road widening' works by the GCC under Jahangir's direction."

The suspended mayor allegedly began the works without the consent of the higher authorities and demolished houses on public property for the purpose.

"We will see whether the work was actually done, whether the lands were truly acquired, and whether those affected were compensated. We will also probe whether he spent the money without getting the expected work done.

"We are investigating all allegations of irregularities in the Gazipur City Corporation. A case will be filed if we find the allegations to be true," said the ACC assistant director.

As part of the investigation, members of the probe committee visited Gazipur to collect information from some government institutions and banks. The probe team members also questioned the GCC officers responsible and collected various documents in this regard.

He further said they have already collected information on how many banks the GCC has accounts with, names of the accounts holders and how those were maintained.

"Besides, we have also received information regarding corruption involving Tk 2.5 crore that was withdrawn from a GCC account in a private bank in Konabari. The signature was of suspended mayor Jahangir."

The LGRD ministry suspended Jahangir on November 25 last year on various charges such as land grabbing, not providing compensation to people after taking over their land for widening roads, and working against public interests.

The suspension came days after he was expelled from the Awami League on November 19 for his controversial comments on Bangabandhu and Liberation War martyrs.

Several cases were filed against him in different districts in this regard.

A Faridpur court recently issued a warrant against Jahangir in one such case.