Abul, Mashiur dropped

The government has removed Prime Minister’s Economic Affairs Adviser Mashiur Rahman and former communications minister Syed Abul Hossain from the cabinet committee on purchase.

Newly appointed Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir and Railway Minister Mujibul Hoque have replaced Abul and Moshiur, who came under criticism after the World Bank raised an allegation against them of a corruption conspiracy in the proposed Padma bridge project.

The Cabinet Division reshuffled the 10-member committee in an order issued on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman Gholam Rahman yesterday said the anti-graft watchdog would quiz Mashiur about the alleged corruption conspiracy.

As the WB on Thursday announced its decision to revive the $1.2 billion credit for the bridge, Gholam told reporters at his office that the commission would investigate the WB’s graft allegation with accuracy and transparency.

The ACC investigation team had already interrogated some people in this connection and, if necessary, would grill them again, he said, adding the ACC was ready to work with WB’s specialised panel in probing the alleged graft.

The WB earlier gave a clear signal to the government that it would withdraw the loan cancellation if the government fulfilled its three conditions. Sending the then communication minister Syed Abul Hossain and adviser Mashiur Rahman on leave was one of them.

Abul resigned and Mashiur has recently been sent on leave.

The government has to provide the WB with the documents on their removal.

Source: The Daily Star