The High Court on Thursday directed the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to complete its probe in a case that was filed against the Standard Asiatic Oil Company Ltd (SAOCL), a subsidiary of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), in connection with the irregularities of Tk 4.72 billion.
The ACC has also been asked to submit the probe report to this HC bench complying with the order.
The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat passed the order after hearing a Suo Motu (an action taken by a court of its own accord) rule issued earlier regarding the issue.
Earlier, lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan, a counsel for the ACC, submitted a report to the court saying that the ACC has already filed a case against Moinuddin Ahmed, one of the directors of the SAOCL and also chairman of its management advisory committee. The case is under investigation, added the ACC lawyer.
He also said that the ACC has found the authenticity of the allegations of involvement in irregularities against Moinuddin Ahmed. His bank account was frozen and the trial court imposed a travel ban on him.
Considering a report published in an English daily on November 4 under the headline "A BPC concern robs state coffers of Tk 4.72 billion", the same High Court bench on November 6 last year wanted to know what action has been taken over the irregularities of Tk 4.72 billion by Standard Asiatic Oil Company.
It ordered the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) to give explanation on the issue by November 20 which was later extended till January 5 in 2023.
It also asked the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation to supply all the documents related to the corruption to the Anti-Corruption Commission for a proper inquiry into the matter by the same time.
The report said, "The government has been deprived of Tk 4.72 billion for 21 counts of irregularities by Standard Asiatic Oil Company, a subsidiary of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, found an audit.
The disclosure comes after the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) pored over the company's books from fiscal 2012-13 to 2019-20 and made field visits.”
The anomalies include embezzlement by top officials, high rates, overtime, missing funds, irregularities in payment of litigation fees and violation of the Income Tax Ordinance and VAT Rules, also read the report.
