ACC sues 21 over fraudulent freedom fighter quota recruitment in 29th BCS
The commission approved the cases following a review of the investigation team’s recommendations
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has approved the filing of six cases against 21 individuals for allegedly orchestrating the fraudulent recruitment of six candidates under the freedom fighter quota in the 29th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination, despite the candidates not applying for the quota.
ACC Deputy Director Akhtarul Islam confirmed the development to The Business Standard today (21 January).
According to the ACC investigation, the six candidates were illegally appointed to various cadres –including administration, police, family planning and general education – about six months after the 29th BCS results were published. The appointments were allegedly secured through collusion, abuse of power, forgery and fraud by misusing the quota reserved for children of freedom fighters.
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The officers appointed through the alleged irregularities include Rakibur Rahman Khan, currently deputy secretary (administration) at the Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA); Md Tofazzal Hossain, zonal settlement officer and deputy secretary of the Jamalpur Zone; and Nahida Barik, deputy secretary at the Bangladesh Forestry Development Corporation.
Other accused include Halima Khatun, assistant director at the Chuadanga District Family Planning Office under the Family Planning Cadre; Md Milton Ali Biswas, assistant professor of political science at Government Keshab Chandra College in Jhenaidah under the General Education Cadre; and Khorshed Alam, superintendent of police of the 6 Armed Police Battalion (APBN) in Mahalchhari, Khagrachhari, who was appointed to the Police Cadre.
In addition to these six, 15 others have been named as accused, including former chairman and members of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC), a former secretary, a former controller of examinations (cadre), and an official of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs.
Among them are former PSC secretary Chowdhury Md Babul Hasan; PSC members AT Ahmedul Haque Chowdhury, Muhammad Liaquat Ali Khan, Mohammad Hossain Serniabat, Syed Hasimur Rahman, Mirza Shamsuzzaman, Professor Suraiya Begum, Ehsan Shamim, Brigadier General (retd) Abidur Reza Khan, Professor Rashida Begum, Professor Dr Emran Kabir Chowdhury, Ikram Ahmed and Professor Dr Farida Adib Khanam; and former controller of examinations A I M Nesar Uddin. Former assistant secretary of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs Md Lokman Ahmed has also been made an accused.
The ACC said it has recommended filing six separate regular cases under sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 109 of the Penal Code, as well as section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.
The commission approved the cases following a review of the investigation team's recommendations.
