Probe body formed over ‘Tk3 crore bribery for DC post’

The government has formed a one-member committee to look into the allegations brought against two secretaries of the Public Administration Ministry of taking a cheque worth Tk3 crore for illegally supporting the appointment of a deputy commissioner (DC).

Headed by Md Rezaul Maksud Zahedi, additional secretary of the Public Administration Ministry, the committee has been asked to submit its report within three working days to the senior secretary of the Public Administration Ministry.

The Public Administration Ministry issued a notification in this regard on Tuesday.

Bangla daily Kalbela published a report on Tuesday, where it cited Secretariat employees and intelligence sources to allege that a Tk3 crore cheque was found at the office room of a joint secretary, identified as Zia Uddin, of the Public Administration Ministry.

A businessperson identified as Mirza Sabed Ali of Kurigram district, issued the cheque to the secretary on behalf of an aspirant district commissioner.

The aspirant Md Abdul Awal is a former director of Anti-Corruption Commission and is loyal to the ex-Awami League government.

He and four others tried to bribe Zia Uddin and another joint secretary for securing the deputy commissioner’s post even before the fit-list of officials was prepared through scrutiny.

Abdu Awal, however, did not deposit the sum with the bank as he was not appointed to the district of his choice.

Mentionable, on 9-10 September, the interim government appointed 52 deputy commissioners to districts across Bangladesh amid an administration overhaul drive.

The appointment of eight of the deputy commissioners was later cancelled.