The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is investigating if there is any involvement of officials of Bangladesh Bank, Joint Stock Companies (JSC) and firms, and Bangladesh Securities Exchange Commission (BSEC) in embezzling billions of money in the name of loan from the non-bank financial institution International Leasing and Financial Services Limited (ILFSL).
Besides, it is also investigating the possible involvement of various bank officials and audit firms in this embezzlement process.
If anyone's involvement is found, then he or she will be included in the charge sheet of the cases filed on charge of embezzlement and amassing wealth beyond known sources of income, said a report submitted in the High Court.
However, no information about any investigation related to any complaint or case against former Information Secretary Md Mokbul Hossain was found, read the report.
On October 18 this year, the High Court wanted to know the steps taken against the responsible persons, including the five former deputy governors of Bangladesh Bank, involved in the plundering of Tk 37 billion. The Anti-Corruption Commission and other respondents had been asked to inform it by October 27.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat passed the order on a Suo Moto (voluntary) move considering a newspaper report. In complying with the HC order the report was submitted in the court.
Lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan appeared in the hearing on behalf of the ACC, while Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin represented the state.
According to the report, a separate investigation is going on into the allegations related to acquisition of wealth beyond known source of income by the former Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank SK Sur Chowdhury. A report will be submitted after the investigation.
A total of 22 cases have been filed on the allegation of misappropriation of Tk 14.08 billion from the ILFSL by granting unsecured loans by the ILFSL board members and officers in the name of various companies owned by Prashanta Kumar Halder (PK Halder) and his associates. Apart from this, a total of six cases were filed against PK Halder and his associates on allegations of amassing wealth beyond known source of income. These cases are under investigation.
An investigation is under process against 27 other persons regarding acquisition of wealth. A case will be filed after the investigation, also read the report.
A total of 178 bank accounts of PK Halder and his associates have been frozen so far. ACC has seized a total of 6790 decimal land, four flats and a 20 thousand square-feet building owned by PK Halder and his cohorts. The market price of these properties is Tk 9.33 billion. Apart from this, a total of 22 cars were also seized by the ACC.
According to the report, ACC has submitted charge sheets in two cases filed against former chairman of Bangladesh Industrial Finance Company Limited (BIFC) Major (Retd) Abdul Mannan, alos General Secretary of Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh.
The court asked the ACC to be more vigilant in preventing corruption. It fixed February 5 for further order on the issue.
