In an interview with BBC Radio, Nurul protested his innocence and said he would apply to President Iajuddin Ahmed and Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, requesting them to reconsider his retirement.

The case was probably Bac's first under the 80-year-old act, sources said.

The three employees of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) accused in the case are: Dinarul Islam, private secretary to prime minister's private secretary, Syed Nurul Islam, computer operator, and Mohammad Selim, data entry operator.

Bac alleged Nurul in connivance with the employees leaked information keeping the prime minister in the dark that hurt national interest and security.

The anti-graft body accused him of taking away 12 compact discs (CDs) written with two sets of notes and summaries of sensitive files and keeping in his custody more files and notes containing Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's signature with intent to leak out additional information.

Bac inspector Md Julfiker Ali filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station.

A 12-member Bac investigation team earlier seized 12 compact discs (CDs) from Nurul's desk in the PMO.

Bac alleged the former top official asked the computer and data entry operators to prepare the CDs. The secretary used the scanner and CD writer in his personal secretary's room.

The anti-graft body also recovered photocopies of 654 pages of summary of information signed by Khaleda and kept in three files.

'VICTIM OF CONSPIRACY’

In the interview, Nurul said he was not involved in any conspiracy against the government and said he was a victim of a design by a vested quarter.

"I had to handle many important mattes in the PMO and halted many illegal activities of the vested quarters," Nurul said, hoping that the misunderstanding between the government and him would clear soon.

"I did not issue any directive to open a probe into the allegations of corruption against anybody," he said, adding," I only sent a few letters filed with the PMO alleging graft to some ministries to find out the authenticity of the applicants and the projects."

"Sending letters to ministries doesn't mean initiation of investigation," he said.

On charge of leaking information and seizure of the CDs, Nurul said: "Those who raised the allegations should come up with evidence to whom and where I sent information."

He also said files were saved on CDs under the government policy of ensuring e-governance.