The influential contractor-cum-Awami Jubo League leader GK Shamim, who is now behind the bars, used to pay monthly ‘commission’ amounting to Tk 25 crore to a bunch of political leaders, including Ministers and MPs, on a regular basis. These leaders’ main task was to manage contracts and tenders for Shamim staying behind the screen. And paying commission money was ‘compulsory’ whether he incurred loss or made profit in the business.
According to a local daily, the above information was divulged by Shamim during interrogation by the law enforcers. He also elaborated the law enforcers how the money was distributed to the shadowed politicians. Often he personally delivered the commission money and sometimes it was done by his two trusted cohorts. The security officials have also made a list of commission-receivers based on the information given by him and scrutinizing his phone call list.
Earlier, the Anti-Corruption Commission has found that Shamim got the contract of constructing new Arts Faculty building at Chattogram University of Tk 75 crore submitting forged documents with the help of CU Chhatra League president and general secretary and three political-appointee teachers. Former assistant secretary of BCL central committee Diaz Irfan Chowdhury was murdered centering the conflict that triggered managing the construction work in favour of Shamim.
Interestingly Shamim, a formar Juba Dal leader, had used to pay Tk 10 crore per month to a Minister during BNP-Jamaat regime to get control of tender-business at Public Works Department. This Jubo Dal-turned-Juba League leader had paid Tk 1200 crore to the former chief engineer of Public Works Department. The said Chief Engineer of PWD used to block the bill if commission money was not paid in due time.
What’s significant is that the information provided by Shamim has opened a Pandora’s Box – the stories of large-scale corruption, distribution of commission money to Ministers and MPs, dubious role of law enforcement officials and silent role of party high-ups. Especially, the contracts of million-taka development works were given to politically blessed quarters like Shamim in unethical and unauthorized ways.
We are stunned -the share money of development projects goes to even MPs and ministers! So far we know, here Shamim is not alone. There are several Shamims who give regular commission money to the different quarters. Otherwise, it was impossible for them to run their business smoothly. The name of the Ministers, MPs and political leaders who used to get Tk 25 crore per month from Shamim must be disclosed.
The present government always tries to focus its big-budgeted development projects and the inflated steady GDP growth. Now we see the inner-side of development. How the government could feel proud of its so-called development works when each and every step of the construction process is infected with corruption? Is it politics of development? It’s nothing but looting public money.
The ongoing raids against the casinos would go futile if no step is taken against criminalization of politics. The law enforcing agencies are now blatantly lying that they were not aware of the casinos. Whereas a fat share money was regularly sent to the police – from low level to high level. All the gambling stations were directly controlled by political leaders of ruling party.
A section of economists and NGOs were admires of government’s so-called development activities knowing every detail of corruption and looting public money. They have given various theories in favour of the development politics. Where are they now?
Youth branch of ruling political party will run gambling and drug business; big brothers will pocket money from construction works and monthly commission, student front will remain engaged in extortion – these are not developments.
