Docs of 9 govt bodies summoned to find out anomalies in FR Tower

Staff Correspondent: The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Thursday sent letters to nine government agencies including Rajdhani Unnyan Kartipakhkha (Rajuk) seeking necessary information to investigate the alleged “irregularities and corruption” in the construction of FR Tower where a devastating fire left 26 people dead last week.

The government agencies are – Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), Fire Service and Civil Defence, Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), Department of Environment (DoE), Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Titas Gas Company Limited, Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority and Dhaka Wasa.

ACC’s Deputy Director Abu Bakar Siddique, also the investigation officer, sent the letters to the government agencies on Thursday.

The agencies have been asked to provide information within three working days, said Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya, public relations officer of ACC.

The ACC’s move came a day after the anti-corruption watchdog initiated the investigation into how the high-rise building’s construction was extended to 23-storey flouting its approval for 18-storey.

The commission assigned its deputy director Abu Bakar Siddique on Wednesday for conducting an investigation to find out those involved in constructing five additional floors to FR Tower violating building code.

Pranab Kumar Bhattacharjee said that the commission initiated the inquiry responding to a complaint against some people including FR Tower owners SMHI FaruqueHossain, Liakat Ali Khan Mukul and Tasvir Ul Islam.

Faruque is the owner of the land while Liakat Ali is chairman of Rupayan Group and Tasvir is chairman and managing director of Qausem Industries.

Faruque and Tasvir were shown arrested in a case filed by the police over the incident.


risingbd/Dhaka/April 4, 2019/MA Rahman/AI