ACC seeks inquiry against 90, including Mashrafe, Jaya, Shaon and Munni

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has been asked to investigate allegations that 90 people from the cultural, media, sports and education sectors attempted to destabilise the state by supporting the banned Awami League and misused public funds and facilities by exploiting political influence.

The accused include cricketer and former MP Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, former MP and actor Ferdous Ahmed, actress Jaya Ahsan, actor Chanchal Chowdhury, actress Meher Afroz Shaon and journalist Munni Saha.

On Sunday (September 13) a delegation led by State Dialogue Forum (SDF) President ANM Ayas visited the ACC headquarters in Segunbagicha and submitted an application addressed to the commission chairman.

The application requested ACC to verify matters relating to the income and assets of the individuals in question, along with their bank transactions, government grants and various other financial benefits they received.

SDF President ANM Ayas told reporters the secretary to the ACC had assured them that appropriate measures would be taken following their application.

He said the list submitted to ACC contained the names of 50 people in the entertainment and cultural sectors, 11 in the media, six in the sports sector and 24, including former vice-chancellors and academics, in the education sector.

The State Dialogue Forum said in its application that allegations had previously surfaced against some individuals connected to cultural institutions and organisations, media outlets, sports and educational institutions in relation to illegal gains through the use of state patronage and political influence, misuse of public funds and facilities and funding political activities.

The application said it was necessary to examine whether the individuals' visible assets and lifestyles were consistent with legitimate incomes, as well as investigating the sources of their assets, bank and other financial transactions, government grants, financial benefits received from various projects and institutions and the use of such funds.

The application also alleged that some of the listed people may have directly or indirectly financed, assisted or provided other benefits to individuals or groups involved in various political activities of the Awami League and in some cases, participated in violent activities.

However, the applicants said an impartial investigation was necessary to determine the veracity of these allegations.

State Dialogue Forum (SDF) submits the application to ACC Secretary Md Saidur Rahman Khan. Photo: Sourced from SDF

The list contains the names of 50 individuals from the entertainment and cultural sectors. Notable ones are Ferdous Ahmed, Meher Afroz Shaon, Riaz Ahmed, Jaya Ahsan, Chanchal Chowdhury, Aruna Biswas, Shomi Kaiser, Suborna Mustafa, Rokeya Prachi, Mahiya Mahi, Nipun Akter, Jyotika Jyoti, Saju Khadem, Soahana Saba, Peya Jannatul, Simon Sadiq, Zayed Khan, Asaduzzaman Noor, Maria Kispotra, Tarana Halim, Swadhin Khasru, Liaquat Ali Lucky, Mamunur Rashid and Limon Ahmed, an entertainment journalist.

Those named from the media sector include former Prime Minister's Press Secretary Naimul Islam Khan, Munni Saha, Subhash Singh Roy, Syed Ishtiaq Reza, Ahmed Zobayer, Nasima Khan Monty, Pranab Saha, Zahirul Islam Mamun, Ashraful Alam Khokan, Soma Islam and Manjurul Islam Panna.

The sports-sector list includes former lawmaker and cricketer Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Shakib Al Hasan, Naimur Rahman Durjoy, Kazi Nabil Ahmed, Arif Khan Joy and former Bangladesh Football Federation (BAFF) president Kazi Md Salahuddin.

The list of individuals associated with the education sector includes former Dhaka University vice-chancellors Professor Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman and Professor Dr ASM Maksud Kamal; former Dhaka University proctor Golam Rabbani; former Jagannath University vice-chancellors Professor Dr Sadeka Halim and Professor Dr Mizanur Rahman; Professor Dr Sudhangshu Shekhar Gayen of the Department of Pharmacy at Dhaka University; Professor Dr Soumitra Shekhar De of the Department of Bangla at Dhaka University; and several others.