ACC to question 8 former ministers in Khaleda's graft case

Dhaka, Sep 24 (UNI) Bangladesh Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) will interrogate eight former ministers in connection with a graft case filed against former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and 12 others.

Notices were issued to six former ministers to appear before the commission tomorrow. Two other imprisoned former ministers would be questioned through jail authorities with permission of the court. The ministers are members of the cabinet committee on public procurement.

The six former ministers, who have been asked to appear before the commission, include: M Saifur Rahman, Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, MK Anwar, Motiur Rahman Nizami, M Shamsul Islam and Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury.

Investigation Officer (IO) of the case Jahurul Huda yesterday said he requested the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's (CMM) Court to grant permission to interrogate the two detained former ministers Dr Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain and Barrister Nazmul Huda, the BSS reported.

The Commission filed the graft case on September 2, alleging that Begum Zia and other received kickbacks in tendering the work to Gatco at Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Dhaka and Chittagong in 2003.

Eight accused in the case, including Begum Khaleda Zia, her son Arafat Rahman Koko and six former officials of Chittagong Port and ICD, Dhaka, have been arrested.

Meanwhile, two of the co-accused, directors of Global Agro Trade Company (GATCO) Syed Galib Ahmed and Syed Tanvir Ahmedgave, pleaded guilty before metropolitan magistrate Abdullah Hel Baki.

UNI