CNG Autorickshaw Scam
JS body itself to probe as PM wants report
Sub-committee still in slumber
Shakhawat Liton
A parliamentary body plans to open a probe into the alleged autorickshaw scam on its own as its sub-committee assigned with the task dragged its feet and the prime minister prodded the parent committee for investigation report. Prime Minister Khaleda Zia asked Syed Manjur Hossain, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on the communications ministry, to submit the probe report on alleged corruption in the import and distribution of compressed natural gas (CNG)-fired autorickshaw. Khaleda's directive came when Manjur along with some standing committee chairmen called on her on June 9. "The sub-committee has repeatedly failed to come up with the probe report. Now I will prepare a report in consultation with Bangladesh Road Transport Authority for submission to the prime minister," Manjur told The Daily Star yesterday. "The prime minister directed us (standing committee chairmen) to inform her of the irregularities or corruption in the activities of ministries, if we find any, in the interest of fighting graft." The standing committee formed the sub-committee on January 7 for the probe after criticising Communications Minister Nazmul Huda for the allegations of corruption. Huda denied the charge outright. Members of the standing committee alleged at the temper-high meeting that a CNG autorickshaw was sold at up to Tk 3.67 lakh, up from the actual price of Tk 1.67 lakh as a result of monopoly by Uttara Motors. The sub-committee was asked to submit its probe report by next 30 days, but it failed the deadline and promised to come up with the report on May 30. The committee also failed the new deadline and the convener of the committee, Nadeem Mostafa, is now abroad.
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