The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has decided not to take into cognisance the allegations against former premier Khaleda Zia regarding the compensation for Magurchhara gas field blow-out and leasing out Phulbari coal zone to Asia Energy.The ACC yesterday also tasked one of its assistant directors to conduct primary enquiry into the wealth and properties of Jatiya Party (JP) Secretary General Ruhul Amin Hawlader.
The anti-graft body has taken the decision about allegations against Khaleda as the preliminary enquiry found that the allegations have no merit.
"As enough documents and evidence were not found for preparing a first information report [FIR] against the former prime minister, the enquiry officer in his report suggested not to proceed further in this regard," said ACC Secretary Mukhles Ur Rahman at a press briefing at the ACC headquarters yesterday.
ACC Deputy Assistant Director Farid Uddin Ahmed submitted the report before Eid-ul-Fitr, saying no evidence or information was found to prove the allegations brought against Khaleda.
"The commission does not proceed with allegations lacking merit," the ACC secretary said.
Official enquiry about 11 graft suspects is going on, Mukhles said, adding that unofficial enquiry about the 24 persons on the fourth ACC list of graft suspects is also being conducted.
It was alleged that Khaleda played "dubious" roles in realising the compensation for the Magurchhara blow-out caused by negligence of US company Occidental in 1997 and leasing out Phulbari coal zone to Asia Energy. Her actions in these matters violated the law and the country incurred huge financial losses at the expense of benefiting a few individuals.
According to an investigation report on the Magurchhara blow-out, awarding of the gas blocks to Occidental itself was highly controversial. The blow-out on June 14, 1997 caused a loss of Tk 3,900 crore.