Benazir’s wealth: HC orders to submit report within 2 months

The High Court on Tuesday (23 April) asked the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to submit a progress report on the investigation about the alleged illegal wealth of former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed and his family, within two months.

The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Kazi Ebadoth Hossain passed the suo moto order.

Advocate Sarwar Hossain and Barrister Manoj Kumar Bhoumik stood for the petitioner while senior advocate Shah Manjurul Haque and Syed Ahmed Raza stood for Benazir while Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan and Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik represented the ACC and the state respectively.

The HC bench said like India, Bangladesh should also have a wealth statement law for government employees. If there was a law, no one would have to guard their (government employees) property.

In India, government employees have to submit their wealth statements at the time of joining and retiring from the job. Action is taken if there is a difference of more than 10 percent of the assets in the statement. To materialise Bangabandhu's dream of Sonar Bangla, such a law will have to be enacted, it added.

Earlier, ACC formed a committee to investigate the alleged corruption of Benazir Ahmed and his family.

ACC secretary Khorsheda Yeasmin informed the update at a briefing held at the headquarter of the Commission on Monday.

Besides, a writ petition was filed with the High Court seeking investigation into the allegation brought against ex-IGP Benazir and his family.

Salauddin Regan, a Supreme Court lawyer, filed the writ petition.

The writ petition also sought investigation into the allegation.

It also sought issuance of a rule asking the government to explain as to why the ineffectiveness of the ACC in investigating the wealth of Benazir should not be declared illegal.

Chairman of ACC, ACC Commissioners and ACC secretary were made respondents to the writ petition.

A vernacular daily published a report on the title of ‘Aladiner Cherag at the house of Benazir’ on March 31.

Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Sumon MP filed a petition with ACC seeking legal steps against Benazir on Sunday.