ACC case against 19 people including 2 former mayors and councilors alleging embezzlement

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against two former mayors of Santhia Municipality in Pabna, Mirazul Islam and Mahbubul Alam Bachchu, for embezzling money.

The case was filed at the Integrated District Office of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Pabna on Wednesday (September 18) after finding evidence of embezzlement against them in the preliminary investigation.

ACC Pabna Office Deputy Assistant Director Manowar Hossain filed the case as defendant. Case number 27. A total of 43 lakh 7 thousand 533 taka embezzlement has been charged in the case.

Among the accused in the case are 2 former mayors, 11 former councilors, and the remaining 6 officials-employees.

The accused are former mayor Mirazul Islam Pramanik (58), former mayor Mahbubul Alam Bachchu (48), former executive engineer Jahangir Hossain Khan (54), current executive engineer Shahinuzzaman (53), accountant Abdul Barik (49), assistant Abu Icha Shafiul Alam (47), Chief Assistant Nuruzzaman (43), MLSS Nurul Islam (46).

The accused among the councilors are Ward No. 1 Councilor Chand Ali (52), Ward No. 5 Councilor Alauddin (33), two former councilors of the same ward Shariful Islam (44) and Abdul Hai (65), Ward No. 6 Councilor Afchar Ali (68). ), Ward No. 8 Councilor Tochaddek Hossain Nasim (43), Ward No. 9 Councilor Hamid Bepari (66), former Councilor of the same Ward Abdul Latif (62), Ward No. 1,2,3 reserved Councilor Bulbuli Khatun (55), 4, Ward No. 5, 6 reserved councilor Hasina Khatun (47) and Ward No. 7, 8, 9 reserved councilor Jiban Nahar (60).

According to the details of the case, 15 lakh 90 thousand 400 taka allocated in the financial year 2019-2020, 11 lakh allocated in the financial year 2020-2021 for the purpose of dengue eradication, cleaning and promotion, covid-19 corona epidemic from the local government department in favor of Santhia municipality. 3 thousand 867 taka and 11 lakh 25 thousand 150 taka allotted for the financial year 2021-2022 were embezzled by the accused in connivance with each other by creating fake bill-vouchers and quotations.

In addition, the accused have colluded with each other and embezzled a total of Tk 2 lakh 15 thousand 966 by charging the bill for the fuel expenditure of the private car in Santhia Municipality despite having no jeep and Tk 2 lakh 72 thousand 150 by preparing fake bill vouchers in the name of drain cleaning of Santhia Municipality.

In total, they embezzled 43 lakh 7 thousand 533 taka by creating fake bill-vouchers and quotations. 409/467/468/471/109 of the Penal Code and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, a case has been filed against them.

Deputy Assistant Director of ACC Pabna Office Manowar Hossain said, "A case has been filed as the charge of embezzlement against them has been proven in the preliminary investigation. Later, the investigation officer of the case will be appointed on the instructions of the higher authority of the ACC.