Fake FF certificates: 3 secys reply to govt notices

Public Service Commission’s Secretary AKM Amir Hossain is yet to submit his answer

Three out of four senior officials of the civil administration have finally replied to the show-cause notices issued by the public administration ministry regarding involvement with taking freedom fighter’s (FF) certificates from the liberation war affairs ministry by providing false information.

The three officials are – Health Secretary Neaz Uddin Mia, former Liberation War Affairs Secretary KH Masud Siddiqui, now an OSD and former Joint Secretary of Liberation War Affairs Ministry Abul Kashem Talukder, currently an OSD.

Public Service Commission’s Secretary AKM Amir Hossain is yet to submit his answer.

He may submit on Tuesday, the last date of submission of the reply according to the show-cause notice.

The sources of the public administration ministry confirmed the matter to the Dhaka Tribune.

The written answers of the three accused officials were submitted to the senior secretary of the ministry’s office by Monday evening, sources said.

The personal staffs of the senior secretary received the letters from the officials.

Those were given to regular office file of the secretary for taking further step, they said.

Amir Hossain’s answer will also be putted in the office file of the secretary after receiving it.

However, decisions on the answers of the four officials might be delayed as Public Administration Ministry’s Senior Secretary Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury is now in abroad on an official tour.

“The answers of the officials will be tabled before the secretary after his return to the office on November 2. Any kind of decision will be taken after his return,” the officials said seeking anonymity.

Ministry’s Additional Secretary Shahjahan Ali Mollah, who is performing as acting secretary in absence of ministry’s senior secretary, denied making any comment regarding the issue.

The officials were served the show-cause notices on October 13 to reply within 10 working days after receiving the notices.

Though the issuing date of the notices expired on Sunday, the last date of submission of the answers will be Tuesday as the accused officials received the notices on October 15.

The ministry officials informed that they may disclose about the submission on Tuesday, in the last date.

On Thursday last, Mollah told the Dhaka Tribune that the ministry will act following the government servants (discipline and appeal) rules, 1985 considering their responds.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) found guilty on receiving the freedom fighter’s certificates of the four officials and former senior secretary to the prime minister’s office and existing Privatisation Commission Chairman Molla Waheduzzaman.

The ministry of liberation war affairs had already cancelled the certificates of those officials and suspended the certificate of Molla Wahed allowing him to appeal against the decision of the ministry.

The public administration served show-cause notices to the four officials who are still in service.

Source: Dhaka Tribune