The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed four cases against 19 people on charges of embezzling Tk 812 crores from the development projects of three airports in the country.
Allegations have been made against 19 officials, including former Prime Minister's Military Adviser Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Mohibul Haque, and former Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman M Mofidur Rahman.
ACC Director General (Prevention) Md Akhter Hossain confirmed the cases on Monday.
He stated that the accused, in collusion with each other, committed an offence punishable under Sections 120/161/163/164/409/420/109 of the Penal Code, 1860, as well as Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, by embezzling Tk 812 crores from four projects.
He further mentioned that the project titled "Installation of RADAR with CNS-ATM (Communication, Navigation and Surveillance-Air Traffic Management)" at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport was implemented by violating the existing provisions of the procurement process and increasing the project cost.
Additionally, there are allegations of embezzling about Tk 200 crores for various reasons, including not following the rules and awarding contracts to preferred contractors. Therefore, a case has been filed against 10 people, including ex-advisor Tarique Ahmed Siddique, ex-Secretary Mohibul, and ex-CAAB Chairman Mofidur, he added.
Akhter Hossain said that the work order for the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Expansion (Third Terminal) project was given to a company called Aviation Dhaka Consortium (ADC). Information was found that the alleged contractor, Arenas International Ltd., was involved in the work as a subcontractor. During the initial investigation, it was found that the project cost, initially estimated at Tk 13,000 crores, was increased to Tk 21,000 crores, and work orders were given in violation of the prevailing rules and regulations.
It is alleged that Tarique Ahmed Siddique, Mohibul, Mofidur, and other related persons embezzled and looted about Tk 250 crores from this project in collusion. A case has been filed against 10 people in this incident, he said.
On the other hand, there have been various irregularities, including corrupt practices, in the expansion of Osmani International Airport, Sylhet. It has been seen that as the local agent of a Chinese company, an advance bill of Tk 212 crores was received for the construction of a new terminal at Osmani International Airport worth about Tk 2000 crores. The work was stopped, and the money was embezzled, with the agent currently in hiding. In this incident, a case has been filed against 11 people, including Tarek Siddiqui, Mohibul, and Mofidur, said the ACC Director General.
He also mentioned that there have been irregularities and corruption worth about Tk 1500 crores in the terminal construction work and runway construction project at Cox's Bazar Airport. Tarique Ahmed Siddique, Mohibul, Mofidur, and many others related to the project helped in awarding contracts to the company. There have also been various irregularities and corruption.
It is alleged that they embezzled about Tk 150 crores from the project in collusion with each other. Therefore, a case has been filed against 12 people, including the aforementioned individuals, he added.
Like the heavyweight leaders of the Awami League government that was ousted in the face of the movement, Tarique Ahmed Siddique has also fled. No information has been found about his whereabouts yet. Various allegations of crimes have been made against this person in the last 15 years.
The allegations have come to light since the fall of the Awami League. Concerned individuals have commented that the allegations made earlier never received any importance from the government.
