The Anti-Corruption Commission is likely to recommend the government for cancellation of freedom fighter certificates and departmental action against four secretaries and a joint secretary.
During inquiry it has found that these five public servants obtained the certificates through forgery to extend their retirement age. They did not participate in the 1971 Liberation War.
The officials are Health Secretary Niaz Uddin, former liberation war affairs secretary KH Masud Siddiqui, former science and technology affairs secretary AKM Amir Hossain (now acting chairman at Public Service Commission), Housing and Public Works Affairs Secretary Khandaker Shawkat Hossain, former secretary to the prime minister Mollah Waheduzzaman and former liberation war affairs joint secretary Abul Kashem Talukdar.
Of them, Masud Siddiqui and Abul Kashem have been made officers on special duty (OSD).
ACC Deputy Director Julfikar Ali submitted the probe report to the commission on Thursday for consideration where he made the recommendations.
Earlier in May, the five secretaries agreed to the government rules that their children would never take any benefit using the certificates.
According to the rules, freedom fighters, their children and grandchildren enjoy 30% quota in government jobs. In addition, freedom fighter's children and grandchildren also get special quota benefits during admissions in public schools, colleges and universities.
According to a circular issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, one has to declare himself as a freedom fighter at the time of joining any service to avail the benefits allotted to the freedom fighters. Such claims may not be considered later.
The probe report was prepared based on documents of the Public Administration Ministry, the Liberation War Affairs Ministry and the Cabinet Division, the official said.
The commission initiated the inquiry on February 6 since the officials had taken the certificates prior to their retirement but did not claim themselves to be freedom fighters at the time of joining.
If the ACC approves the recommendations, it will send the report to the designated ministries and the Cabinet Division seeking departmental action against them.
Since 2009, the Liberation War Affairs Ministry has cancelled certificates of around 160 government officials for securing those through forgery.