Corruption continues in Bangladesh!

by M Nuruzzaman
February 10, 2010

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/505/corruption-continues-in-bangladesh

Awami League government was always vocal against corruption when it was in opposition. But, whenever it came to power, corruption always reached the alarming level. It may be mentioned here that, during the rule of Awami League in 1996-2001, Transparency International [TI] listed Bangladesh as the most corrupt nation in the world.

Weekly Blitz has received a scoop about a serious corruption inside Railway Ministry. According to this information, Bangladesh Railway, which is under the control of Ministry of Communications, has sold a property in Dhaka worth US$ 40 million to several ruling party activists for only US$ 2.5 million. Total size of this extremely precious commercial land is 2.5 acre.

Bangladesh Railway or the ministry concerned did not invite any tender for such sale, though it is illegal for the government enterprises to dispose off any valuable property without due process.

The land is located near Kamalapur Railway Stadium in Dhaka. Some unscrupulous political elements grabbed railway's land illegally and established a grocery market named 'Sher-E-Bangla Market'. More than fifteen hundred shops were constructed on this illegally occupied land by several muscleman and political hoodlums. The land was originally located for headquarters of Bangladesh railway. Later, when railway authorities initiated to evict the illegal occupants, some of the kingpins of this illegal occupation sought help from a number of influential political figures in the ruling government. The key player in the entire episode was one of the ruling party men, whose name is already in the anti Sheikh Hasina group named – RATS. It is said that, this Awami League leader was heavily compensated by the syndicate which, which finally managed to buy such huge piece of land at a very nominal price. It is even rumored that, top figures in the Communication Ministry were also duly compensated for this deal.

The entire process of such huge irregularity and massive corruption was completed just in five months, as the effort to grab the property began right after Awami League government came in power in January 2009. By August 2009, Bangladesh Railway already received payment for the sale through 170 pay orders submitted by various individuals. It is learnt that, this group of 170 people will now grab the entire property with the help of the ruling party men. It may be mentioned here that, previously there was more than fifteen hundred shops illegally constructed on this land. The new 'owners' have already approached a number of commercial banks in Bangladesh for financial assistance for constructing a multi-storied commercial complex over the property.

The Communication Minister and his entire ministry, instead of any effort to save this huge property, rather played key-role in expediting the process of such illegal sale and now are even doing everything for handing over the property to the group of unscrupulous people.

It may be mentioned here that, in previous Awami League government, Syed Abul Hussain, who now holds the Communication Ministry was sacked from post on numerous corruption charges.

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