Dhaka, Jun 18 (bdnews24.com)-- The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Tuesday quizzed Whip Nur-e-Alam Chowdhury Liton 's brother Nixon Chowdhury in connection with alleged irregularities in appointing consultant for the Padma bridge project.
The two-hour long questioning started around 9:30am after he reached the anti-graft watchdog's headquarters at Segun Bagicha 15 minutes earlier.
After the World Bank suspended its pledged $1.2 billion fund for the $2.9 billion Padma Bridge project in October last year alleging corruption, the ACC decided to investigate the charges.
On Feb 2, it declared that there had been no corruption in selection of pre-qualified contractors for the project. However, investigations were in progress to find out whether there were any irregularities in appointing consultants.
The ACC also quizzed former State Minister for Foreign Affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury over the same issue on Jun 14.
An official with the ACC, seeking anonymity, had told bdnews24.com on the day: "After the tender invitation process had started, the former junior foreign minister had negotiated at a meeting held between then Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain and high officials of the Bridges Division, and officials of SNC-Lavalin Group Inc [a Canadian company]."
"He has been quizzed regarding the meeting," the official had said.
Hasan is the son of late President Abu Syed Chowdhury and also a State Minister of the 1996-2001 Awami League government.
ACC officials said former Communication Minister Abdul Hossain could again be quizzed over the allegations of irregularities.
An ACC official said Tk 3 billion had been allotted for appointing consultant for the project. SNC-Lavalin Group topped the short-list of five firms proposed by the evaluation committee headed by Dr Jamilur Reza Chowdhury.
The other companies were Halcrow Group of the UK, Aecom of New Zealand, Oriental Consultant Company Limited of Japan and High Point Rendel, a joint venture of the UK and the Netherlands.
Canadian authorities on Sep 3 launched investigation into corruption charges against employees of SNC-Lavalin Group Inc, one of the engineering firms bidding on the bridge project, after the World Bank's anti-graft unit referred its concerns about violations of Canadian law.
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