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| Bangladesh |
| Khaleda evidence 'convincing' |
| 2010-11-23 |
| [Bangla Daily Star] The Anti-Corruption Commission has claimed to have found "convincing" evidence that former prime minister Khaleda Zia had shown fake sources of funds for establishing Zia Charitable Trust. Nearly Tk 2 crore spent on the establishment of the Trust came from unknown and fake sources, said a commission official referring to the findings of an ACC probe into corruption allegations against Khaleda. The probe did not find any involvement of Khaleda's sons Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko in the corruption. Meanwhile, ...back at the ranch... another ACC investigation found lack of diligence on the part of the then prime minister Khaleda Zia in the allocation of Tk 100 crore for construction of the Bhairab bridge, said a source at the commission. The ACC is now looking into the legal aspect of the probe reports to find whether they have any flaws or loopholes. Probes into the corruption allegations against Khaleda were initiated early this year and the findings came about two months ago. But the matter came to prominence following the growing acrimony between Awami League and BNP over the evacuation of Khaleda Zia from her cantonment residence. The print and electronic media ran reports and programmes based on the rumour that the government might move to file cases against Khaleda and her two sons to compel BNP to drop its plan for anti-government programmes. ACC Chairman Ghulam Rahman however brushed aside any possibility of the government using the commission for the purpose. "The commission will file a case only after it is totally convinced that the case would lead to punishment of the accused," he said. "The Anti-Corruption Commission has no connection with the government. It works independently and makes its own decision," the chairman said. Senior ACC lawyers are going through the findings to determine whether ACC should go ahead as filing of any cases against Khaleda might evoke a controversy. The ACC also initiated investigation into two corruption allegations against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina but it did not find evidence against her. |
| Posted by:Fred |