The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Monday decided to probe the allegation of gold swindling in the gold award plaques presented to foreign friends in recognition of their contributions to the country’s Liberation War in 1971.
The anti-graft agency at its regular meeting on Monday decided to conduct probe into the graft allegation, ACC sources said.
As per government conditions, a gold award plaque should be made with 11.67 grams of gold and 30 grams of silver, but the Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institution (BSTI) in its test found only 2.37 grams of gold and no sliver in the crests.
Bangladesh honoured a number of foreign people and organisations in recognition to their contribution to the country’s liberation war.
The government first conferred honour on late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Her daughter-in-law and Congress President Sonia Gandhi received the honour on her behalf on July 25, 2011.
In the second phase, Bangladesh awarded 83 with ‘Bangladesh Liberation War Honour’ and ‘Friends of Liberation War Honour’ on March 27, 2012 and 61 received the state honour in the third phase on October 20, 2012.
In the fourth phase, Bangladesh also conferred awards on 62 more foreign friends for their outstanding contributions to the Liberation War 42 years ago.
Source: Prothom Alo
