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Download PDF The High Court (HC) yesterday stayed functioning of the notice issued by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia asking her to submit wealth statement.
Following a writ petition filed by Khaleda, the HC division bench comprising justices Shah Abu Nayeem Mominur Rahman and Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury also issued rule on the ACC to explain in eight weeks why the notice should not be declared illegal.
“As it is a legal matter now, the issue must be faced legally and flawlessly. The issue must sustain and there was no weakness in our work,” said ACC Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury in reaction to the HC decision.
“We will keep the matter within the legal framework and we will not let the ongoing activities against graft be ruined,” he said.
The anti-graft body will sit today to decide its next course of action on the matter.
The ACC issued the notice on July 17 asking Khaleda to submit her wealth statement within a week. The commission extended the deadline by seven days following an application from Khaleda.
On August 6, Khaleda submitted her wealth statement showing movable and immovable properties worth Tk 3.54 crore.
The ACC then initiated an investigation into the statement.
Khaleda filed the writ petition on Thursday, challenging the legality of the ACC notice.
The petition was moved in the court by barrister Rafique ul Huq, who had also moved a similar petition filed by former premier and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina. The HC declared the ACC notice served on Hasina illegal.
Asked if there was any legal or technical fault in the ACC procedure of issuing such notices, Hasan Mashhud said, “I will not keep any weakness in the work of the commission. And the court will decide the matter. I have fixed our activities after analysing experiences.”
The ACC will bring necessary changes in its working process if it feels necessary to continue the ongoing drive against graft, he said, adding, “If we give up or are compelled to move away from the ongoing drive against graft, not only the ACC but the entire nation will be defeated. But that will not happen easily.”
Asked about the allegation of not listening to the ACC lawyers’ suggestions while issuing notices to the graft suspects, Hasan Mashhud said, “Why should we refuse to accept our lawyers’ suggestions?”
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