ACC to investigate Tk4000cr spending for ‘Mujib Borsho’
Staff Reporter :
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched an inquiry into ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana and her ex-principal secretary Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury over allegations of wasting Tk4,000 crore from state treasury for celebrating “MujibBorsho” in 2020.
On the other hand, ACC is set to begin hearings today (Thursday) over charges filed against Sheikh Hasina and six other members of her family for allegedly abusing power and committing irregularities in securing plots under the RAJUK Purbachal New Town Project.
The previous Awami League (AL) government allegedly spent the money on creating 10,000 murals and statues across the country for “MujibBorsho”.
The anti-corruption watchdog formed a seven-member committee to conduct the inquiry, ACC Director General (prevention) Md Akhtar Hossain told reporters at a press briefing in Dhaka on Wednesday.
“The inquiry into the matter began in January. Our team is currently collecting information from various organisations,” he added.
The birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was celebrated as a grand national festival for two years from March 2020 to March 2022 as the government, led by her daughter Sheikh Hasina, announced it as “MujibBorsho” or Year of Mujib.
Official files, letters, pads of both her government and non-government offices, and aircraft of Bangladesh Biman were emblazoned with the badge of “MujibBorsho” displaying the smiling benevolent face of Sheikh Mujib.
International air passengers would be greeted by a mural with the smiling face of Sheikh MujiburRahman at the entrance to the immigration hall of the airport welcoming them to the ‘Land of Mujib.’
Discussions, cultural programs, audio-visual content, other presentations, sports competitions and many more programmes were held countrywide with active participation and supervision of the administration.
Extravagance of the Mujib Year Sheikh Hasina declared the fiscal year 2020-21 as the Mujib Year during a party meeting at the Awami League’s central office on 6 July 2018, according to information published on the websites of various ministries, departments, offices, and organisations.
To mark the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Awami League government formed two committees: the National Committee and the National Implementation Committee, on 14 February 2019. Sheikh Hasina chaired the 102-member National Committee, which included politicians, bureaucrats, army personnel, teachers, artists, and journalists.
Hasina’s whim: Tk1,261cr spent on Mujib Year celebration
The official countdown and unveiling of the Mujib Year logo began on 10 January 2020, on Sheikh Mujib’s Homecoming Day. The logo was designed by Sabyasachi Hazra.
The background music for Mujib Year featured the iconic line, “TumiBanglarDhrubo Tara, TumiHridoyerBatighar, AkasheBatasheBojrokantha, TomarKanthashwar.”
Mujib Year officially commenced on 17 March 2020, and continued until 31 March 2022, coinciding with the peak of the pandemic. Initially planned for one year, the celebration period was later extended by a year.
Various programmes were organised across government offices under the guidance of the National Committee, while individual ministries and departments also held their own celebrations.
Due to the pandemic, many Mujib Year events were conducted digitally, including a video and photo documentary on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Memorial books, anthologies, and souvenirs were also released in his honour.
The inaugural event, titled “Muktir Mahanayak,” and a 10-day celebration called “Mujib Chirantan” were held.
Other initiatives included the launch of a special Mujib Year website, the release of commemorative postage stamps, a 100-day long quiz competition, and a special mobile package called “Shatabarsho” by the state-owned Teletalk, offered free of charge.
A special internet package was made available at a nominal price, and the communication app Alaap was introduced. Various public and private organisations set up Mujib Corners at their offices.
The Mujib Year celebrations officially concluded on 31 March 2022.
Furthermore, fifteen days after the ACC submitted charge sheets in six separate corruption cases involving the allocation of six 60-katha plots, the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court is set to start a three-phase hearing on whether to accept the charges.
A senior ACC official confirmed the development to media.
The official added that, if the court accepts the charge sheets after the hearings, the formal trial process will begin with the framing of charges against the accused.
On March 24, the ACC submitted the charge sheets in seven corruption cases involving the Purbachal project to the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court. Seven members of Sheikh Hasina’s family have been named as accused in these cases.
They are ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and daughter Saima Wazed Putul, as well as sister Sheikh Rehana, her daughters British lawmaker Tulip Siddiq and Azmina Siddiq Ruponti, and son Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby.
Alongside them, 16 officials from RAJUK and the Ministry of Housing and Public Works have also been accused, with their names appearing in the six cases individually.
Among the hearings, one charge sheet will be presented on April 10, three on April 13, and another three on April 15.