The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is probing the allegations of accepting a huge bribe against former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who is in hiding. ACC has received a complaint that he used to take bribes in sacks by syndicate. Superintendent of Police used to take minimum 80 lakhs to 2 crores for recruitment and 1 to 3 crores for posting as Superintendent of Police. He also used to recruit and trade recklessly. On Thursday, the commission decided to investigate these complaints. Close associates of Kamal will also be investigated. According to the ACC sources, this news is known.

For this, a five-member investigation team has been formed under the leadership of Jahangir Alam, deputy director of the ACC head office. As per the decision of the commission, the complaint is being investigated by Special Investigation Investigation-3 Wing. Other members of the team are – ACC Deputy Director Muhammad Zainal Abedin, Assistant Director Abul Kalam Azad, Nashrullah Hossain and Mohammad Jinnatul Islam.

The order signed by ACC Deputy Director Zakaria directed to submit the investigation report within the stipulated time as per law. ACC Public Relations Officer Aktarul Islam confirmed the matter to media.

According to ACC sources, the former home minister used to take bags of money as bribes since taking office. The money was collected from police, drug control department and fire service. That’s why the then additional secretary. Harun Or Rashid formed the syndicate under the leadership of Biswas. Other members of this syndicate are – Joint Secretary Dhananjay Kumar Das, Assistant Private Secretary (APS) to the Minister Monir Hossain, Public Relations Officer Sharif Mahmud Apu and Administrative Officer Molla Ibrahim Hossain.

Dr. used to play a key role in collecting or withdrawing bribe money. Aaron Kamal-Harun syndicate has stolen thousands of crores of rupees. At one point Harun retired but he controlled all bribery and corruption in the ministry. The money was smuggled out of the country to avoid the risk.

In the complaint given to the ACC against the former home minister, it is said that for the appointment of superintendent of police in the district, 80 lakh to 2 crore rupees were taken. Without the blessings of this chakra, no one of the police could be posted in any district or important post. This syndicate used to take Tk 1 to 3 crores for posting as district police superintendent.
On June 30, 2022, DIG Mollya Nazrul Islam was appointed as the Commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police. ACC has alleged that he was appointed in exchange of five crore taka. These money were delivered in sacks to Kamal’s house. It was not possible to know his statement in this regard.

It is known that Kamal had to pay 80 to 1 crore rupees from each organization to give ‘No Objection Certificate’ or NOC to non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
In 2018, when a development organization in the capital’s Uttara area went to get NOC, problems started in the Ministry of Home Affairs. Earlier, Special Branch of Police, Deputy Commissioner, NSI submitted a positive report. Even so, the file was kept on hold for months for reasons unknown. 85 lakhs were paid to the minister before the election in December 2018 under compulsion.

ACC sources also said that whenever there was a circular in fire service and civil defense, a list was sent from the office of the former minister. The fire service was forced to employ them accordingly. In October 2023, 535 people were appointed by the Directorate of Fire Service and Civil Defense. Among them, 436 men are fire fighters, 15 women and 84 drivers. At the beginning of the recruitment process, a list of 250 people was sent from the minister’s office to the Director General of Fire Service. The fire service was forced to appoint according to that list on the orders of the former minister. A bribe of 8-12 lakh taka per person has been taken for recruitment.