The Anti Corruption Commission is likely to take a move against the much talked about gold crest swindlers, which was distributed among the foreign friends recognising their enormous contributions to our glorious liberation war of 1971, as the matter involves the image of the country.
“Media reports in this regard have revealed that some government officials were involved in the scam. Therefore, we will look into the matter as it is a scheduled offense under the ACC jurisdiction,” ACC chairman M Bodiuzzaman told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
The chairman also said the anti graft body already reviewed the newspaper reports for consideration and would collect a copy of the probe report prepared by a committee, formed by the government to investigate into the scam.
The reports said quoting the probe report that 13 high-level government officials, including liberation war affairs secretary Mizanur Rahman, former secretary KH Masud Siddique, as well as its former minister AB Tajul Islam had connection with the scam.
Two gold suppliers Amicom and MS Mohsinul Hasan were also found guilty in the scam.
“As the inquiry report has found government high-ups involvement in the forgery, we are considering the matter seriously. We will launch an inquiry if it is needed because it is a very heinous offense,” the ACC chairman continued, adding that the commission has yet to take any formal decision in this regard.
During 2011 to 2013, the government has honoured 338 foreign individuals and organisations with crests for their contributions to the country’s liberation war under three categories where each crest was supposed to have one bhari of gold and 30 bhari of silver.
However, a BSTI test found that there was about three anas of gold and three bhari of brass and copper in each crest.
