Mosharraf, Kazi Ferdous held over Padma Bridge graft

risingbd24.com report

The Anti-Corruption Commission on Wednesday arrested former secretary of the Bridges Division Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan and Superintendent Engineer of Bangladesh Bridge Authority Kazi Mohammad Ferdous in the capital for their alleged link with Padma bridge graft.

A team of the anti-graft body arrested them at Shahbagh around 1:00pm, Pronob Mukharjee, public relation officer of the ACC told The Daily Star.

The arrest was made nine days after the ACC filed a case against seven persons, including Mosharraf for conspiring to commit bribery in the Padma bridge project.

The anti-graft body however did not include in the case former communications minister Syed Abul Hossain and former state minister for foreign affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury.

On December 17, the ACC filed the case with Banani Police Station.

The other accused are: Executive Engineer of Roads and Highway Department Reaz Ahmed Zaber; Deputy Managing Director of Engineering and Planning Consultant, a local agent Canadian firm SNC Lavalin, Mohammad Mostofa; and SNC Lavalin officials Mohammad Ismail, Ramesh Shah and Kevin Wales.

The WB cancelled its $1.2 billion funding on June 29 this year, saying it had proof of a "corruption conspiracy" involving Bangladeshi officials, executives of a Canadian firm and some individuals.

The global lender on September 21 decided to revive the loan after the Bangladesh government agreed to the WB`s terms and conditions.