The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) lodged a case against 23 people, including Madaripur Land Acquisition Officer, on charges of embezzling Tk 10 crore in Madaripur.
The case was filed against them as they embezzled the money by creating fake documents of government land and assigned consents and property owned by others in land acquisition for other important projects including the Padma Bridge project.
Among the accused are Madaripur Land Acquisition officer Pramath Ranjan Ghatak, its Branch surveyors Russell Ahmed and Nasir Uddin, Sudhansh Kumar Mandal, Alo Pattandar, Abdul Malek Mridha, Suruj Mia, Razia Begum, Abdul Qadir Kazi, Shahin Bepari, Kulsum Bibi, Atiqur Rahman, Md. Milan Sheikh, Zillur Rahman, Monir Mia, Josna Begum, Akhi Begum, Alam Ali Bepari, Hasina Begum, Achma Begum, Awlad Hossain, Farida Begum and Matiur Rahman.
According to the case statement, they withdrew compensation bills for the acquisition of government properties, VP properties and property documents of various owners of 5 LA cases including the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project.
They also withdrew Tk 9.97 crore 85 thousand 54 in different names against 23 checks. The ACC found evidence that the then Land Acquisition Officer Pramath Ranjan Ghatak was involved in this fraud. Two surveyors Russell Nasir, who were working at the same time, were also involved. The ACC found evidence that he committed corruption of about Tk 10 crore in collaboration with a local gang.
Madaripur ACC Deputy Director Atiqur Rahman said that they received instructions to investigate the incident in 2022. They found the allegation brought against them true.
They filed a case in this connection on Wednesday, he added.
AH/HK
