Former Bridges Division Secretary Md Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan was suspended on Wednesday as he was arrested and landed in jail for his alleged involvement in Padma bridge corruption conspiracy.
Senior Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikdar of Public Administration Ministry issued the order which was made effective from the date of his arrest on December 26 last year.
As per Bangladesh Service Rule, a public servant is usually suspended if he or she is arrested and jailed in connection with criminal offences.
Mosharraf was made officer on special duty (OSD) hours after the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on December 17 filed a case with Banani Police Station against him and six other people for conspiring to commit bribery in the project. He was then executive chairman of Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority at the Prime Minister’s Officer.
Later on December 26, he was arrested from in front of the National Museum at the capital’s Shahbagh and placed on a seven-day remand. He was sent to jail after completion of his remand.
The World Bank cancelled its $1.2 billion funding for the project on June 29 last year, saying it had proof of a “corruption conspiracy” involving Bangladeshi officials, executives of the Canadian firm and some individuals.
Later in September the global lender decided to revive the loan after the Bangladesh government agreed to the World Bank’s terms and conditions.
Prior to make him OSD, Bhuiyan was on leave to fulfill a condition of the World Bank to revive its funding for the much-hyped project.
Source: The Daily Star
