The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) here on Sunday took statements of nine local freedom fighters from Lowhaganj Upazila in Munshiganj district to be affirmation whether Liberation War Affairs Ministry’s Joint-Secretary Abul Kashem Talukder took part in Liberation War during 1971.
The joint-secretary together with other five secretaries of different important ministries managed freedom fighters’ certificates and enlisted their names in gazette notification for getting extra two years in service.
They managed the certificates when they were reaching at the edge of their age limit in the government job.
The anti-graft watchdog launched an inquiry into the irregularities on receipt of information from different corners, including media.
As part of the examination, ACC Deputy Director Julfikar Ali took statements of Mahbubl Alam, Convener of Lowhaganj Upazila Muktijuddha Sangshad, M Akbar Ali, Khandoker Hedaetul Islam, Kajol Delwar Hossain, Mir Mosharraf Hossain, Abul Sarker, Abdur Rahsid, Kazi Moniruzzaman and Selim Khan about Kashen’s participation in the Liberation War.
They came to the ACC head office as asked by the commission to appear before it on Sunday.
Liberation War Affairs Secretary K H Masud Siddique, Science and Technology Secretary A K M Amir Hossain, Prime Minister’s Office former Secretary Mollah Wahiduzzaman, Health Secretary Niaz Uddin Mia and Expatriates’ Welfare and Oversees Employment Secretary Khondoker Shawkat Hossain are stated to be allegedly taken the freedom fighters’ certificates.
On condition of anonymity a high-raking officer of ACC told The New Nation yesterday that if the allegation was found truth, legal action would be taken against them.
He said, their punishment will be an example for all the unscrupulous people so that they never be brave enough to commit such heinous crimes.
