The Public Administration Ministry is yet to take any action against the five high officials even nine days after it received the letter from the Anti-Corruption Commission.
The Anti-Corruption Commission accused those five officials of possessing fake freedom fighter certificates from the Liberation War Affairs Ministry
Though the Liberation War Affairs Ministry decided to cancel the fake freedom fighter’s certificate of those officials on September 14 it is yet to issue any gazette cancelling the certificates.
However, Liberation War Affair Minister AKM Mozammel Haque yesterday confirmed the Dhaka Tribune that the ministry had already completed the procedures for cancelling the certificates. The gazette will be issued on Sunday.
“The gazette will be sent to the public administration ministry after its issuance. We will also request the Public Administration Ministry to take departmental action against the officials for their fraudulence,” he added.
Meanwhile, Public Administration Ministry’s Senior Secretary Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury told reporters that they are examining the rules to take action against the five officials following the request of the ACC.
When asked about the decision of the Liberation War Affairs Ministry, the senior secretary said, “We are yet to get any gazette from the Liberation War Affairs Ministry. We are waiting for the gazette. We hope that the gazette would reach the ministry within a day or two.”
The notice of the ACC sought cancellation of their certificates, punitive and legal action against them following an investigation into the allegation that the government officials resorted to forgery to obtain freedom fighters’ certificate.
Out of the five, Health Secretary Neaz Uddin Mia, Public Service Commission Secretary AKM Amir Hossain, former Liberation War Affairs secretary KH Masud Siddiqui (now an OSD) and former joint secretary of Liberation War Affairs Ministry Abul Kashem Talukder (currently an OSD) are now in service.
Former senior secretary to the prime minister’s office and existing Privatisation Commission Chairman Molla Waheduzzaman is in his contractual job after completion of his regular service.
The Public Administration Ministry received the ACC letter that requested the ministry to take departmental action against the officials for their proven fraudulence on September 10.
On the same day, the liberation War Affairs Ministry also received the letter which was sent requesting cancellation of the fake certificates and file criminal cases against them.
The ministry decided to cancel the certificates on September 14 in the meeting of the National Council of Freedom Fighters.
Meanwhile, the Liberation War Affairs Ministry on Wednesday issued gazette notification cancelling 24 fake certificates issued earlier.