Amid criticisms from different quarters over the termination of an Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) officer, the anti-graft body brings a slew of fresh allegations against him.
However, none of the allegations is proved yet as investigations into at least three divisional cases are going on against Md Sharif Uddin, the dismissed deputy assistant director (DAD) of the ACC.
"The officer was terminated as a consequence of professional misconduct and frequent violation of service rules," says ACC secretary MD Mahbub Hossain.
Clarifying, he says the officer is also subjected to 'whimsically' inquiring into and investigating graft cases by defying ACC's work-manual.
The secretary came up with the justifications for the action at a press conference Sunday at the ACC headquarters in Dhaka's Segunbagicha area.
He also told reporters that Sharif also froze at least 33 bank accounts without taking approval from the commission and court orders, which is a matter of "embarrassment" for the commission.
There are also evidences that the dismissed official, "misusing his power", summoned people having no direct connection with graft allegations, in the name of investigation, he said.
Referring to another allegation, Mr Hossain said, "The High Court Division issued a Suo Moto rule in October 2021 to investigate against Sharif as he kept Tk 9.36 million in seized money in his custody for about one year and four months which was supposed to be deposited with government treasury.
The money was recovered in a drive at the residence of a land surveyor in Cox's Bazar that was allegedly received by him as bribe.
Responding to a question as to why the ACC has terminated its officer before finishing the investigations, the secretary said, "Due to continuous violation of service rules, the commission dismissed Sharif using section 54(2) of the ACC (staff) rules 2008."
Meanwhile, ACC Service Association, a platform of the commission's permanent officials, submitted an application to ACC Chairman Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah to reconsider the rationality of the section 54(2) of the ACC (staff) rules 2008, which allows 'stand-release' of any of its officials without warning.
In reply, Mr Hossain said, "The commission will consider the application. At the same time, ACC officials shouldn't be terrified, frustrated and panicked because the commission has no intention to misuse the law."
The 54(2) of the ACC (staff) rules 2008 was applied to a special case because Sharif's "reckless behaviour had been hurting ACC's image", he adds.
To another question about discrimination in applying section 54(2) between ACC's permanent officers and officers coming on deputation from other services, the secretary says, "There is no scope that the officers coming from other services to the commission will escape committing any crime."
Sharif Uddin was removed on February 16 as per the 54(2) of the ACC (staff) rules, according to an ACC notice signed by the ACC Chairman. On January 30, Sharif Uddin lodged a general diary (GD) with Khulshi police station in Chittagong seeking security for his life.
Meanwhile, at least 10 lawyers of the Supreme Court has sent a letter to the Supreme Court Registrar-General, and a High Court bench consisting of Justice Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman requesting them to issue an order for providing security to Sharif.
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