HC asks authorities to probe graft allegation against Southeast Bank chairman

In an order, the High Court on Tuesday asked the authorities concerned to probe allegations of corruption against Southeast Bank Chairman Alamgir Kabir.

At the same time, the same bench of the HC issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why their inaction of conducting investigation into allegations of corruption against Southeast Bank chairman should not be declared illegal.

It also asked the authorities concerned to explain why they should not be directed to take legal action against him on the basis of media reports published in the national dailies on 1 August regarding the matter.

The finance ministry, the Bangladesh Bank, and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) have been asked to conduct the investigation over the matter and submit a report before the court within three months.

The High Court bench comprising Justice Mohammad Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice SM Mojibur Rahman came up with the order following a writ petition filed Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) seeking its directive over the matter.

The human rights body filed the writ petition following a media report published in a national daily on August 1 stating the allegations of corruption against Alamgir Kabir under the headline "One Chair 1 lakh 40 thousand".

The finance secretary, the ACC chairman, the Bangladesh Bank governor, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit deputy governor, the Southeast Bank chairman and its managing director have been asked to reply to the rule within four weeks.

The HC bench also fixed November 17 for delivering its further order on the petition.

Advocate Manzill Murshid appeared for the petitions while advocates Md Sarwar Ahad Chowdhury, Eklas Uddin Bhuiyan and Md Mahbubul Islam assisted him during the hearing on the petition.

Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan represented the ACC and Deputy Attorney General AKM Aminuddin Manik stood for the state during court proceedings