Complete probe into graft allegations against Jahangir by 6 months: HC

The High Court has asked the Anti-Corruption Commission to complete an investigation into the graft allegations against the suspended Mayor of Gazipur City Corporation Jahangir Alam by the next six months.

The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat on Wednesday passed the order after hearing a writ petition, ACC lawyer Md Khurshid Alam Khan told Jago News.

Attorney General Abu Mohammad (AM) Amin Uddin and Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik and Assistant Attorney General Anna Khanam Koli stood for the state while senior lawyer Md Khurshid Alam and advocate Titas Hillol Rema represented ACC in the hearing. 

Besides, advocate Zahirul Islam (ZI) Khan Panna and advocate Ikramul Haque Tutul were present for the writ petitioner while senior advocate Sarwar Ahmed was for Jahangir Alam.

However, Md Abdur Rahim, son of Osman Gani Sarker, a resident of West Virulia Sarker Bari in Gazipur city, filed the writ petition in the High Court on February 3.

Read More: AL expels Gazipur Mayor Jahangir Alam

In the writ, he prayed the court issue a rule directing the Anti-Corruption Commission to complete a probe into the allegations of corruption raised against Jahangir Alam during his tenure as mayor.

On November 19, 2021, Awami League expelled Jahangir Alam for his controversial remarks on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the number of martyred freedom fighters during the Liberation War. But the AL has recently announced a general amnesty for him.

On November 25, 2021, he was suspended as Gazipur city mayor on November on various allegations, including fake tender and RFQ (request for quote), appointing irrational manpower in different posts, money embezzlement showing the same works in different projects and not submitting money received from hat-bazaar lease every year to a specific account.

Later, the Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Ministry formed a three-member committee to look into the irregularities and grafts against him.

The Anti-Corruption Commission also launched an investigation into the allegations in June of last year.

FH/SU