The government is about to set up an inquiry commission to find out the conspirators behind reported campaigning of false information regarding irregularities in Padma Bridge.
The cabinet division has taken the initiative to form a ‘commission of inquiry’ led by an incumbent or retired justice in the light of High Court order.
On condition of anonymity, an official of the cabinet division said, the issue is being processed.
It has been learned that the cabinet division has even drafted a summary in this regard to send it to prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Earlier ,on 28 June, a High Court bench comprising of justice Nazrul Islam Talukder and Kazi Md Izarul Haque Akand had given directions about the formation of the inquiry commission.
Cabinet division sources states that mentioning the High Court’s order their draft summary says, a report on the issue related to the demand of Dr Muhammad Yunus’s trial was published in a newspaper on 14 February, 2017. Citing that report, the High Court on its own accord decreed a Suo Moto rule on 15 February that year.
The rule was decreed in the sense, why the formation of an inquiry commission won’t be directed to find out the actual culprits behind the conspiracy against the state and government by creating false information regarding the contract on the construction of Padma Bridge. The verdict of that case was passed on 28 June this year.
The defendants including the cabinet secretary, home secretary, inspector general of police, communications secretary and anti-corruption commission chairman were given direction about forming the commission. The cabinet secretary was told to inform about the progress on the formation of the commission and the steps taken in this regard, within 30 days.
The summary, drafted by the cabinet division, stated the government can form a commission through gazette under the ‘Commission of Inquiry Act 1956’. In fact, the legislative and parliamentary division of the law ministry also gave opinions in this regard. It said one or more members, who are expert in the concerned area, can be appointed in the commission.
The commission would be considered and would be able to exercise power as a civil court. And there is the involvement of law and justice division of the law ministry, if there’s a need to appoint any judicial officer as the president or a member of the investigation commission.
Under such circumstances, law and justice division can be requested to take necessary measures for the formation of an investigation commission led by any working or retired justice in order to implement High Court’s order, mention the draft summary.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Padma Bridge on 25 June. This has opened a doorway of connection, communication and many possibilities for 19 southern and south-western districts with other parts of the country including Dhaka. Bangladesh built this much discussed bridged under its own funding.
Earlier, in between April to June of 2011, loan contracts were signed with World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), JICA and Islamic Development Bank (IDB) about investment on the Padma Bridge project. Later, World Bank stopped funding on accusation of corruption conspiracy. Other financing agencies backed out as well.
At that time, prime minister Sheikh Hasina announced that Bangladesh will built The Padma Bridge on its own accord. Then the development partners were informed that their funding was no longer needed. Main construction of the Bridge began towards the end of 2014, which reached the final shape in June this year.