The Anti-Corruption Commission has sought relevant documents from the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs to probe against the six secretaries alleged for obtaining freedom fighter certificates through forgery to extend their retirement age.
The notice has asked the ministry to submit the six secretaries’ application letters for freedom fighter certificates, certified copies of the freedom fighter certificates that they had obtained, their applications for extension in service under the freedom fighter’s quota, and other relevant documents by March 9.
On February 6, ACC decided to open an investigation into five secretaries and a joint secretary who obtained freedom fighter certificates over the last five years.
They six alleged are Health Secretary Niaz Uddin, Liberation War Affairs Secretary KH Masud Siddiqui, Science and Technology Affairs Secretary AKM Amir Hossain, Housing and Public Works Affairs Secretary Khandaker Shawkat Hossain, Prime Minister’s Former Secretary Mollah Waheduzzaman and Liberation War Affairs Joint Secretary Abul Kashem Talukdar.
The anti graft body is currently conducting inquiry on how the officials had obtained the certificates prior to their retirement as they did not claim themselves to be freedom fighters at the time of joining.
According to a circular issued by 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 freedom fighters. Such claims may not be considered later.
ACC has also sought the lists of freedom fighters prepared in 1980, in between 2001 and 2006, and in 2009, for verification.
A letter would be issued to the ministry of public administration in a day or two asking it to send the service books of the six alleged secretaries and other documents related to their services, said an ACC official.
