Two Padma graft-conspiracy accused detained

ACC has detained two Padma graft-conspiracy accused after they were denied bail.

Solaiman Niloybdnews24.com
Published : 26 Dec 2012, 02:51 AM
Updated : 26 Dec 2012, 06:42 AM

 The Anti-Corruption Commission on Wednesday detained the two prime accused of Padma graft-conspiracy case after they were not granted bail.

Both former Bridges Division Secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan and Superintending Engineer (River training) of the Bridge Authority Kazi Mohammad Ferdous were not granted by the High Court.

The emergency bench of Justices Md Rejaul Hoque and Qazi Izarul Hoque refused to hear the bail prayer the duo had filed on Dec 19. Instead they suggested to move a regular bench of the Supreme Court when it resumes after winter recess.

The Supreme Court is in winter recess, and the emergency bench is to deal with important issues until normal court work resumes.

There were 200 cases on Wednesday's cause list before the emergency bench.
ACC detained the two from Shahbagh area when they were leaving the High Court.

The ACC sued seven for 'conspiring to exchange bribes' to give the Padma bridge project's consultancy to Canadian construction firm SNC-Lavalin consultant. Later it ordered arrest of those accused.

The other six accused are Superintending Engineer (River training) of the Bridge Authority Kazi Mohammad Ferdous, Roads and Highways Department Executive Engineer (Bridge Construction and Maintenance Division-4) Riaz Ahmed Zaber and four SNC-Lavalin officials -- Deputy Managing Director of Bangladeshi firm Engineering and Planning Consultant and Local Sub Consultant of SNC-Lavalin Mohammad Mostafa, former Director of International Project Division Mohammad Ismail, former Vice-President of the International Project Division Ramesh Shah and former Vice-President and General Manager of SNC-Lavalin's Energy & Industrial Business Unit Kevin Wallace.

"The accused made all arrangements to help SNC-Lavalin win the tender to supervise the construction of Padma bridge as a consultant through mutual collaboration. They have committed punishable offences under section 161 of the Penal Code and the 1947 law to prevent corruption," said the case statement.

According to the statement, the 'exchange of bribes' was supposed to take place on the Canadian construction giant winning the job.

The World Bank postponed its pledged $1.2 billion loan in September last year raising allegations over appointment of a consultant to supervise it. The global lender alleged high-ranking government officials were involved in graft as the project was underway.

The government and the then Communication Minister Hossain dismissed the allegations outright. On one occasion, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself corroborated Hossain's claim of innocence, and dubbed him a 'patriot.'

The World Bank went back on its pledge to fund the bridge in June this year, enraging the government which announced the bridge would be built by own fund collected through donation and other means.

Ending months of speculations, the development lender, however, returned to the project after Hossain was removed from the Ministry of Communication, and Prime Minister's Economic Affairs Advisor Mashiur Rahman, who was integrity advisor in the project, and the Bridges Division's Bhuiyan were sent on leave.

A deal was struck between the government and the World Bank on the introduction of new procurement arrangements for the project, with more oversight and transparency to ensure clean construction of the bridge. A three-member panel led by Luis Moreno-Ocampo, former Chief Prosecutor of International Criminal Court, was allowed to oversee the ACC investigation as part of it.

The panel had visited Dhaka once before and the fate of the project hinges on the report of this panel.