The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has started investigation into the allegations of amassing illegal wealth against former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed. A three-member committee, headed by ACC deputy director Hafizul Islam, has already been formed to investigate the corruption of the former IGP. ACC Secretary Khorsheda Yasmin confirmed the matter to the reporters at a press briefing at the ACC headquarters today (22 April). She said legal actions will be taken according to the relevant laws of the ACC after an investigation. Earlier, a writ petition was filed with the High Court seeking an investigation into Benazir Ahmed's corruption. Supreme Court lawyer Salahuddin Regan filed the writ petition with the concerned branch of the High Court. Four people, including the ACC chairman and secretary, have been made defendants in the case.

‘Folk Station’ a program of Bengal Media Corporation (RTV) has been broadcasted to uphold the lost rural songs before the mass people. After going to airing the program it has gained immense popularity so that four seasons were made. J K Majlish, a music director and composer was assigned to rearrange the songs along with other composer which were broadcasted in the Folk Station reality show. But over the allegation of cheating about the copyright of the songs the Rtv authority has sued against Majlish with capital’s Motijheel Police Station (case no. 28,15/09/2022) under the Digital Security Act. According to the information of the case, J K Majlish has been publishing the songs numbering about two hundred and fifty on You Tube claiming rights naming after him which earlier he rearranged for Folk Station program aired by Rtv three years back. Moreover, J K Majlish is broadcasting those songs naming after him on foreign online platform though he worked for Rtv on a contract basis. A local firm named ‘Gaan Box’ is associating the process. That firm is working on collecting songs from the musicians and composers to broadcast those on foreign online platform. It was known that on behalf of Bengal Media Corporation (Rtv) conversation was made with J K Majlish. He was told that he rearranged the songs under contract basis in exchange of money. But the steps did not refrain him from his activities, the authority also noticed him about the steps taken by J K Majlish himself. Later, Rtv authority served him by legal notice. As Majlish was consciously not aware of the steps then Rtv authority filed case against him and other two people. The other two accused are Jewel D Costa and owner of Gaan Box music. Mentionable that the online platform where J K Majlish used to broadcasts those songs are: Spotify, Apple Music, Prime Music, Geo Seven, Dazer, You Tube Music, Star I Tune and others. The issue of copyright was first highlighted by a firm (MCN) named Fuga. That firm claimed copyright of more than two hundred songs from Rtv You Tube Channel. It also claimed that the songs which were broadcasted in the ‘Folk Station’ program were tuned and copyrighted by J K Majlish.               

Law Minister Anisul Huq said, Tureen Afroz was removed from the post of International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Prosecutor as allegations against her were proved. He said this in response to a question of newsmen at his office at the secretariat on Monday. The Law Minister said, we have the record of her speech with the criminal. We have removed her from the post as those are proved based on evidence. Earlier, Dr. Tureen Afroz was removed from the post of ICT Prosecutor for professional misconduct and for breaching discipline and code of conduct. In this regard a letter was sent to the law ministry from prosecution department of the tribunal signed by Chief Prosecutor Golam Arif Tipu. Later she was terminated by the ministry. Mentionable, Tureen Afroz was trapped after unearthing two audio records from the mobile phone of Wahidul Haque who was arrested in a case filed under crimes against humanity. On April 24, 2018 former National Security Intelligence (NSI) Director General Wahidul Haque was arrested from Gulshan area in the capital. At that time police seized the mobile phone of Wahidul Haque. While examining two audio records were found that proved Tureen had communication with Wahidul. AH   

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the people, who are creating anarchy on universities after bringing corruption allegations against vice-chancellors, would have to face legal action if they fail to prove it. “The people who are frequently carrying out movements against vice chancellors branding them as corrupt. They must have to prove the allegation. If they can prove it action will be taken against them (VCs), otherwise, legal action will be taken against those making allegation,” she said while distributing assistance among journalists at a function at the Prime Minister’s office in the capital on Thursday. The remarks came when unrests are going on over corruption allegations at Jahangirnagar University and Pabna University of Science and Technology (PUST). The premier said that it would not be tolerated anymore to stop classes and launch attacks on the houses of VCs and offices in the name of movements without any logical grounds. “Corruption allegations are usually surfaced whenever any development project is taken place,” she said, opining that the allegations might have come while the money earned through grafts is not distributed properly. In this context, she said the BUET students have been carrying out the movement following death of a fellow student since the people responsible for killing of the student, were arrested and a case was filed to this end, saying, “I found no logic to continue the movement.” The premier slammed the Bengali daily Prothom Alo over the death of a student of Dhaka Residential Model School and College in electrocution due to their negligence in arranging a program at the school where little children joined the function and attended the school. “How they (Prothom Alo) could make such negligence. Didn’t they have any responsibilities to arrange the program in a proper manner as little students are roaming there. But, they did not pay heed to the matter. This is a serious offence. It can’t be tolerated,” she said. The premier also criticized the Prothom Alo authority for taking the student in a private hospital in Mohakhali despite having several hospitals such as Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital, National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital and Trauma Centre around the venue. Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, State Minister for Information Dr Murad Hasan and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee of Information Ministry Hasanul Haq Inu were present on the dais while Information Secretary Abdul Malek moderated the function. PM’s Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman, PMO Secretary Sajjadul Hassan, PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Managing Director and Chief Editor Abul Kalam Azad and PM’s Speech Writer Md Nazrul Islam were present on the occasion. Bangladesh Observer Editor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, eminent journalist Abed Khan, President of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Molla Jalal and Secretary General Shaban Mahmud, President of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) Abu Jafar Surjo and General Sectary Sohel Haider Chowdhury, BTV Director General SM Harunur Rashid and PIB Director General Zafar Wazed, among others, were also present. Referring to the protest in Jahangirnagar University over graft allegation against the vice-chancellor (VC), Sheikh Hasina said, “If the complainants fail to prove the allegation, they have to face the music.” The Prime Minister directed the authorities concerned to keep the records and footages of speeches and words of everyone making the allegations. Criticising the move that kept classes shut days after days, she said, “The students responsible for it should be expelled from the university immediately.” The premier also held the teachers responsible for it, saying, “Teachers are using students in such misdeeds.” She also criticized the protest of Dhaka University students over shifting of the station of Dhaka Metro Rail and taking the plan to reconstruct the TSC having modern facilities. The premier questioned why such movements are waged whenever development programs are taken and said that a vested quarter who doesn’t want the continuation of the government, staging trials of the war criminals and killers of the Father of the Nation have been hatching conspiracy to this end. Sheikh Hasina urged the journalist community to write something about the issues aimed at revealing the truth behind those. The Prime Minister also requested the newsmen to publish follow-up stories about the agony of the thousands of women who were inhumanly tortured during the War of Liberation in 1971. She heavily criticized the BNP for resorting to same type of atrocities after assuming state power through 2001 general election as mothers and daughters were raped together at that time. Giving credit to the media for bringing Feni’s Nusrat killing to the light, the premier called upon the journalists to unmask the criminals by publishing their names and addresses. In this context, she said her government has been taking actions against the criminals irrespective of their political identities, adding, “A criminal is a criminal whoever he and whatever his political identity might be. One must face punishment if commits a crime.” The premier distributed cheques of financial assistance to 53 journalists suffering from various diseases and financial insolvency and the family members of the journalists who died in different incidents. The donations were given from Bangladesh Journalists’ Welfare Trust. With them, financial assistance has so far been given to 1,714 journalists and their family members at different times. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina initiated the trust fund in 2014 by giving seed money of Taka 5 crore. She has donated Taka 28.80 crore to the trust at different times. Source: BSS AH

Information Minister Hasan Mahmud said that action will be taken against Bangladesh Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon if evidence of taking extortion from casino is found. He said, I think it will be a matter of severe sadness if allegation against Menon is proved. The names of politicians that are coming in front, that should not be. Even we cannot imagine that. If any name comes than action will be taken according to the existing law of the country. The minister said these while speaking to the newsmen at a hotel in the capital on Monday. About Bhola incident he said, a vested quarter is hatching conspiracy to divert the incident. Investigation is going on in this connection and action will be taken. AH   

The education ministry is checking the allegation of corruption that has risen against Jahangir Nagar University (JU) Vice Chancellor Farzana Islam.  Recently over the allegation of commission business in the university campus the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) president and general secretary have to leave their posts. The same allegation has risen against the VC of JU. In this regard a written complaint was submitted to the education ministry on behalf of a section of the university teachers. If the allegation is proved then she may have to leave the VC post. When contacted, Additional Secretary of secondary and higher education division of education ministry Abdullah Al Mamun said, we have got written complaint against the JU Vice Chancellor. The matter is being checked secretly. Legal action will be taken against her if evidence is found regarding the allegation. Abdullah Al Mamun said, the allegation is very serious but it is still in the primary stage. If it is necessary probe body will be formed. In this regard efforts were made to contact JU VC professor Farzan Islam but it was not fruitful. But Pro-Vice Chancellor professor Dr. Md. Amir Hossain said, there is a rumor in the university campus over the issue of taking commission. A group of people cannot accept the incident and demand taking action against her. But it did not hamper the academic activities of the university. AH   

In two years a syndicate of 10 businessmen have taken away at least 5 thousand 5 hundred crore taka by sending workers from Bangladesh to Malaysia. They took the amount by charging extra money on nearly two lakh workers. Manpower exporters and combined coordination front panel leader of BAIRA Shafiqul Alam Firoz alleged that this amount of money was taken away. He said, in different times news of embezzling this amount of money was published in media. It is not our investigation, but that syndicate has embezzled huge amount of money by sending workers in Malaysia. Shafiqul Alam Firoz told Rtv online, the syndicate of 10 agencies took 3.5 to 4 lakh taka per head from the workers which were much more than the government fixed charge. He said, there is an agreement to send workers in Malaysia at the rate of 37 thousand 5 hundred taka, there was a verbal approval of charging around 1 lakh 60 thousand taka. Then why they would take 3.5 lakh or 4 lakh taka from workers- he raised question. His panel is taking part in the forthcoming Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) election. He also alleged that this syndicate of 10 agencies is influencing the election. They anyhow want to capture BAIRA. He said, this strong syndicate has been leading the BAIRA for the last two years. This syndicate has worked behind destroying the Bangladeshi labor market to Malaysia. They have done a major loss for the country. Now they are active again for repetition of the incident by grabbing BAIRA. They want that they would be elected without vote and our panel would not participate in the election. According to the Malaysian media Star Online source, it was fixed that per head charge of sending workers in Malaysia through 10 agencies should not be higher than 2 thousand Ringgit. But the agents were charging 20 thousand Ringgit from the Bangladeshi workers. Half of the money was going to the hands of that syndicate and in exchange of that they were arranging work permits and air tickets. In this circumstance Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said that his government will form an independent committee to start the new system and this committee will recommend after assessing the overall situation. It was also heard that new rules will be active to appoint workers there. Later media reports also said that Malaysian government has stopped recruiting workers from Bangladesh. But Bangladesh’s Labor Councilor appointed in Malaysia Sayedul Islam Mukul said, it is a confusing news. Manpower export to Malaysia is not facing closure. Bilateral relations of the two countries are very good. The new government is going to start unified method for the source countries. The formal declaration will come within a short span of time. He also suggested for not being confused over the news. Meanwhile, the combined coordination front has welcomed the new rules of the Malaysian government. They said, what the Malaysian government has declared about new rules to take manpower that will make labor market free from syndicate of 10 agencies. Transparency will return as a result. AH                      

Joint Commissioner of Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Abdul Baten has claimed that the allegation of picking up three leaders of quota reformist students by blindfolding is not true. He said this while replying to the newsmen at a press conference held at the DMP office at Mintu Road in the capital on Tuesday. Abdul Baten said, we have no stance over the quota reformation movement. What happened was a misunderstanding. But DB is investigating the case filed over the incident of attack on DU Vice Chancellor’s residence. For this reason some students are being called to the DB office in different times. They are being called to identify the attackers. Adequate development in this case has been done. The Joint Commissioner of DB said, we have no straight forward allegation against the student involved in quota reformation movement. They demanded withdrawal of the case. But they were not brought to DB office in this reason. What speech they delivered, they only can explain that. On Monday police picked up three leaders of quota reform movement activists within two hours of placing demand to withdraw the case filed in connection with the movement. They were taken to DB office blindfolded. The news spread in the Dhaka University campus very quickly. As the students got angry over the incident the three leaders were released within one hour. AH