Top BNP leaders claim the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is reviving old cases against the leaders of political opposition parties to harass them ahead of the national election scheduled for the end of this year.
BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan told the Dhaka Tribune that the ACC has been failing to conduct its activities impartially because of the government’s influence.
“The government should assist the commission but this has not been done,” he said.
“Thousands of cases involving crores (of taka) are in court for years and years and the ACC does not care about that. But, now it seems very enthusiastic to revive old cases including an only Tk2 crore one against BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.”
While ACC sources said its investigations into graft allegations are part of its normal work, a huge number of cases mostly filed during the military-backed caretaker government regime of 2007-08 have already piled up against opposition leaders.
Many of those cases are now at the trial stage, while some are still under investigation.
BNP leaders have claimed that the ACC is bringing the cases into focus to harass the opposition leaders and keep them away from the polls.
BNP leaders under scrutiny
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been in jail since February, when she was convicted in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case filed during the caretaker government regime in 2007.
In April, the anti-graft watchdog launched inquiries against eight top-level BNP leaders, and another individual, on charges of their alleged involvement in money laundering.
They are: BNP Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, BNP vice-chairmen M Morshed Khan, Abdul Awal Mintoo, BNP Joint Secretary General Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel, and Executive Committee Member Tabith Awal.
An inquiry has also been launched against Faisal Morshed Khan, the son of former foreign minister Morshed Khan.
The graft watchdog launched inquiries on the basis of allegations submitted by an unnamed individual which stated that the BNP leaders suspiciously withdrew Tk125 crore from their different bank accounts over one month.
The ACC will examine whether the money was siphoned off, and will investigate their wealth.
During the past two months, the commission has summoned about a dozen opposition leaders to interrogate them about different corruption charges, including money laundering, embezzlement, and allegations of amassing illegal wealth.
Very recently, the commission summoned Maj(retd) Abdul Mannan, secretary general of Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, over his alleged involvement in the embezzlement of Tk518 crore.
On September 20, the commission summoned seven businessmen, including former BNP lawmaker and former vice-chairman Mosaddak Hossain Falu, on charges of laundering Tk80 lakh in the United Arab Emirates.
The ACC has also summoned Md Nuruddin Ahmed, the brother of Khaleda Zia’s former adviser Mosaddek Ali Falu, and four of his relatives to look into the allegation of the acquisition of illegal resources.
Partex Group Chairman MA Hashem, a former BNP lawmaker from Noakhali, and his sons, are also under the ACC scanner for their alleged involvement in the embezzlement of around Tk150 crore through Partex Sugar Mills Limited.
Investigations are also underway against former foreign minister and BNP Vice-Chairman M Morshed Khan, his wife Nasrin Khan, and a son, in two graft cases filed for alleged embezzlement of over Tk383 crore of the AB Bank founded by Morshed Khan.
On August 16, the commission summoned BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury to quiz him for his alleged involvement in money laundering and amassing of illegal wealth.
Smear campaign?
BNP leaders claim false allegations have been made and published in the media to tarnish the image of the party and its senior leaders.
They say the government wants a repeat of the 2014 national election, with opposition parties left on the outside.
However, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said the anti-graft watchdog is a “responsible and reliable” organization, which can summon any political leader or person for valid reasons.
“Since this is near the general election, opposition parties like BNP are raising such questions, but the ACC also summons and interrogates Awami League leaders in connection to inquiries so I do not agree this is intentional,” he said.
“As opposition, BNP may consider it harassment because they fear that senior leaders might be put in jail to make the electoral field empty for BNP.
“It is natural that they will feel empty. As an observer, we expect the ACC to work on these topics neutrally for the opposition party,” he added.
Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik Secretary Badiul Alam Majumder said it may seem like the BNP is getting most calls from the ACC.
“But everyone expects that the issues will be judged fairly. Since polls are nearing, we hope they will abstain from doing something that is bad,” he added.
ACC Chairman Iqbal Mahmood recently said that the commission is working according to its law against corruption, and that it does not work without any evidence.
“We are not harassing anyone; rather we seek the truth. We want to know whether there is any wrongdoing.”