Staff Reporter :
During the hearing on a writ petition, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) counsel Khurshid Alam Khan said to the High Court that ACC official Sharif Uddin who was recently terminated from his service without any show-cause letter misused the power given by the organization.
The lawyer also said that Sharif Uddin seized 33 bank accounts without any approval of the commissioners of the ACC or any court. The official has tarnished the image of the ACC and threw the organization into the dustbin by misusing power, added the lawyer.
Action has been taken against him in accordance with the rules, and there had been no violation of the law in this case, also said the counsel adding there is no provision of issuing any show-cause notice for terminating any official of the ACC under Section 54(2) of the ACC (staff) rules, 2008.
After submitting the statement, the ACC lawyer sought direction from the High Court for initiating an inquiry against the official.
A writ petition was filed with the High Court on February 23 seeking its directive on the authorities to conduct an independent inquiry into the reported allegations and counter allegations over the termination of ACC official Sharif Uddin.
Ten Supreme Court lawyers, led by Mohammad Shishir Manir, submitted the petition as a public interest litigation also requesting the HC to pass necessary order to protect the independent and neutral image of the commission.
Lawyer Shishir Manir on behalf of the writ petitioners said they did not file the writ petition to save any particular person or against him, rather they have filed it seeking a proper investigation into the actual incident.
Upon hearing both the parties, the High Court bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman fixed March 8 for passing order on the issue.
The court also asked the ACC lawyer to submit a report based on facts and documents regarding the termination in the court in a written form on or before March 8. It also asked lawyer Shishir Manir to place an affidavit containing his legal arguments on this issue by the same time frame.
On February 16, ACC gave Sharif Uddin stand release as per Section 54(2) of the ACC (staff) rules, 2008. Sharif Uddin was reportedly been conducting investigations into corruption allegations against different offices and hospitals, according to the published reports.
Following the termination, the same Supreme Court lawyers on February 20 sent a letter to the High Court seeking security of life of recently terminated ACC official. The letter was sent to the High Court bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman, and to the Registrar General of the Supreme Court in accordance with the High Court Rules.
However, the High Court bench on February 22 declined to hold hearing and pass any order on the letter submitted by the 10 lawyers and asked them to file a writ petition seeking necessary directives if they are aggrieved with ACC’s action over Sharif Uddin’s dismissal.
