HC issues rule on departmental action against CAAB Chief Engineer Habibur accused in graft case

The High Court today (23 February) issued a rule asking why no departmental action should be taken against Habibur Rahman, chief engineer of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), who has been accused in a graft case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

The bench of Justice Fahmida Kader and Justice Mubina Ashraf issued the rule after a hearing of a writ petition in this regard.

CAAB chairman, director (administration), chief engineer, and the civil aviation and tourism secretary have been made respondents to the rule.

The court asked them to submit their response within four weeks.

ThThe e ACC, on 27 January, filed four separate cases against Sheikh Hasina's ex-military adviser Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former CAAB chairman M Mofidur Rahman, CAAB's Chief Engineer Habibur and 16 others in connection with the embezzlement of Tk812 crore from Bangladesh's aviation sector.

They are accused of collusion, fraud, and financial misconduct in the development projects of various airports over the past 15 years.

The commission is currently investigating corruption in projects worth Tk32,605 crore at eight airports in the country, including the third terminal.

Earlier on 10 February, on behalf of six Supreme Court lawyers, Barrister Md Solaiman filed the petition seeking departmental action against Habibur with the relevant branch of the Supreme Court. The petition also sought that Habibur be sacked.

The petition was filed after a legal notice was ignored which had been issued to the authorities concerned for taking action against Habibur on 6 February. 

During the hearing today, Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Chowdhury Morshed Kamal Tipu represented the petitioners in court.