By NNN-BSS
Dhaka : Bangladesh government has decided to increase the number of special courts in Dhaka from existing five for quick disposal of graft cases.
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) secretary Mokhles-ur Rahman Monday said the government has felt the necessity to raise the number of the courts considering the increased number of cases ready for trial.
He said four to five new special courts would be set up in Dhaka immediately, as it becomes difficult for the existing courts to deal with the present volume of work.
Replying to a question, the ACC secretary said eight former ministers were asked to appear before the investigation office (IO) of the graft case against former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia as part of investigation.
He said as per law the authorized officer of the ACC can interrogate any person in any case and seek any information from any person or organization in the interest of proper investigation.
He hoped that the former ministers would appear before the IO of the case and tell him about their role as member of the procurement committee.
“The ACC act has been promulgated by an elected government and everything is mentioned in the law,” he said adding the commission will proceed as per rules if anybody doesn’t respond to the ACC notice.
About press reports that a number of former ministers did not get the notice, the ACC secretary said, “As far as I know they have received the notices and our service return supports it.”
Meanwhile, Assistant Director of ACC Mahbubul Alam filed an FIR against former MP and Awami League leader Haji Selim and his wife Gulshan Ara with Lalbagh thana on charge of acquiring illegal wealth and hiding information of wealth worth about Taka 8.70 crore in his wealth statement submitted to the commission.
The commission also sued former Awami League MP Sheikh Helal Uddin on charge of amassing illegal wealth of Taka 7.60 crore which is disproportionate to his known sources of income. Deputy Director of ACC Monjur Ahmed filed the case with Ramna thana Monday.