ACC questionable for dropping Abul Hossain: WB

The World Bank panel investigation suspected graft in Padma bridge project has questioned the Anti-Corruption Commission’s investigation for leaving Syed Abul Hossain from the list of suspects.

The Feb 20 report, published on World Bank website on Tuesday, was handed over to Finance Minister AMA Muhith a few days back.

The three-member panel, led by Louis Moreno-Ocampo, said in the report that ACC's investigation did not appear to be full and fair.

“The Panel maintains that there were no legal reasons to exclude the name of the former Minister of Communications from the initial list of persons under investigation.”

“The Panel agrees with the decision to pursue a formal investigation of the seven named individuals” who allegedly tried to take bribes for themselves and others by favouring Canada-based SNC Lavalin and its partners for the consultancy of the $2.9 billion project, the report said.

However, the report concluded “that a final assessment of the adequacy of the ACC’s investigative activities should be done at the end of its investigation”.

After the Washington-based global lender raised graft allegations, the ACC was asked to start investigations by the government in a bid to get the World Bank to resume funding.

The ACC filed a case after preliminary investigations.

Officials said a charge sheet will be filed after the investigations were over.

The ACC said ‘no credible evidence was found’ to justify leaving out Syed Abul Hossain from the list of suspects to be investigated.

But it was said he would not be spared if evidence to his involvement was found.

Meanwhile, the ex-Communications Minister has rubbished charges of graft against him.

In the report, Ocampo-led panel also recommended "adoption of a more active approach to engage the private sector".

It also called for "adoption of practices for greater engagement with national authorities and other lending agencies to ensure enhanced coordination, investigate efficiencies and improved risk mitigation."

Lastly, it recommended valuation of the increased costs from ‘alternative implementation arrangements’ and the use of an external Panel of experts as part of the World Bank mechanism to fulfil its fiduciary relationships.