Bangladesh News

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday pressed charges against detained former power secretary ANH Akhter Hossain, incumbent Managing Director of Desco Saleh Ahmed and 14 others in the Desco share scam case.

ACC Assistant Director Amirul Islam, also the investigation officer (IO) of the case, submitted the charge sheet against them to the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court showing 26 people as prosecution witnesses.

The charge sheeted accused include former chairman of Dhaka Electricity Supply Authority (Desa) Towhidul Islam, ex-joint energy secretary SM Mesbaul Islam, ex-deputy energy secretary Zahidur Rahman, incumbent Deputy Energy Secretary Abdullah Mahmud, Senior Assistant Secretary Laila Jesmin, Deputy Secretary Ismat Ara Jahan, Desco Company Secretary AHM Nurul Huda, ex-assistant energy secretary Ali Hossain, Summit Power Ltd MD Chanchal Krishna Talukder, former Desco directors Khan Lodi Mainul Haq, and Mustafizur Rahman, Desco directors Monzur Rahman and Kudrat-e-Khuda and Desa member Monzur Hossain.

The charge sheet was submitted under section 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant) and 109 (abetment) of the Bangladesh Penal Code and 5(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act 1947.

In the charge sheet, the IO showed 15 accused as fugitives and prayed for issuance of arrest warrant against them and also the order to attach their properties.

He also mentioned that the charges brought against them were proved in primary investigation and they should be brought under trial.

ACC Assistant Director Mahbubul Alam filed the case with Shahbagh Police Station against Akhter Hossain and nine others on August 8 last year for committing the offences. Later, involvement of six others including former Desa chairman Towhidul was found in the investigation.

According to the prosecution, there is no provision for the ministry to buy shares in the name of any official. But, Akhter in connivance with other accused bought 61,000 shares in their names violating rules and provisions of the ministry.

Moreover, they bought the shares showing lower rates causing a loss of Tk 10.20 crore to the government.

Earlier, Akhter had been convicted in two cases on charges of evading tax, amassing wealth illegally and concealing wealth information.