BNP says ACC biased, working to save ruling AL

The BNP has accused the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) of being biased and working to protect ruling Awami League leaders.

Its International Affairs Secretary Asaduzzaman Ripon on Wednesday made the allegation in a briefing at the party’s Naya Paltan office.

He claimed quoting a newspaper report that the commission had rushed into deciding not to pursue the case against Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya by acting on his plea. 

“On the other hand, even though lawyers of our Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has appealed for withdrawal of the two trust cases, the ACC has not taken them into consideration and is stubbornly carrying on the proceedings.”

“The ACC said they did not want to continue cases against 300 people, all members of the ruling party.  We think the ACC is acting with a bias,” Ripon said, demanding the dropping of cases against BNP leaders. 

He also said the ACC suggestion to quash cases against ruling party ministers and leaders while pursuing those against BNP leaders was ‘unwelcome’. 
 
“The cases against BNP leaders should also be withdrawn if those against the ruling party leaders and ministers are withdrawn.”
 
Asaduzzaman Ripon criticised ACC Commissioner Shahabuddin Chuppu for taking a decision on the case against Awami League leader Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, in absence of the ACC chief.
 
“I want to ask him whether his act was in accordance with the oath he had taken under constitution.”
 
On June 14, the Supreme Court has quashed a High Court order acquitting Maya of graft charges in a case filed seven years ago.
 
Earlier, ACC Assistant Director Nurul Alam filed the case at Sutrapur Police Station on June 13, 2007 accusing Maya of owning illegal property worth around Tk 3 million.
 
On Feb 14, 2008, during emergency, Awami League MP Maya was sentenced to 13 years in prison and fined Tk 50 million. 
A special court also ordered confiscation of his property worth around Tk 60 million.
 
A High Court bench dismissed the verdict on Oct 27, 2010.
 
Maya’s acquittal was quashed after ACC went to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court.
 
Meanwhile, a newspaper report on Tuesday said the commission tried to ‘save’ Maya in the case.
 
It said the commission decided not to pursue the case while it was being heard at the Appellate Division.
 
But the SC verdict came before the ACC’s letter reached the apex court, the report said.
 
At the briefing, Ripon said, “Anti Corruption Commission has already turned itself into a toothless institution.”
 
He hoped the commission would now, after the SC verdict, respect the rule of law and become proactive against all corrupt people.
 
“But if the commission continue to be partisan and biased, we will not accept it,” he said.
 
He said his party would keep protesting against such bias.

When asked for his reaction over the bail granted to former minister Abdul Latif Siddique, he said the government put him behind bars ‘temporarily’ after he had raised question over the earning of prime minister’s son in crores of taka, besides making some comments on Islam.
 
“The government chooses the month of Ramadan to facilitate him bail or acquit him of the charges thinking the people will not protest during this time,” he said.
 
He said this was another instance of the lack of rule of law and the public institution’s biasness.
 
“This is the reason why the ruling party affiliates are getting privilege from the law and administration while the oppositions are facing oppression, suppression and cases.”