"The ACC has assigned two officials to probe the allegations against Mamun that came out in various newspapers," said ACC Chairman Justice Sultan Hossain Khan.

"We have initiated a process to investigate allegations of corruption against a lot of big fish," he said but did not name anyone else except Mamun.

A top ACC source, however, said Nazmul Huda is another "big fish" to be closely scrutinised. The press has run many reports on Huda's alleged corruption including taking bribes and illegal commissions from various parties while introducing the CNG-run taxis and gas stations, he said.

Former BNP parliamentarian SA Khaleq openly alleged at a parliament session that Huda took Tk 25 lakh in bribes but did not deliver the service he took the bribe for.

Huda also gave a costly railway land to his wife's human rights organisation for just Tk 5,000. He is alleged to have taken commissions from bridge toll collectors and road construction contractors across the country, making hundreds of crores of taka.

The then parliamentary standing committee on communication also brought wholesale allegation against Huda and a sub-committee was formed to probe three allegations--import of CNG-run autorickshaws, land allocation for CNG filling stations, and handling of Jamuna Resort Ltd.

Besides, he was accused of corruption at each and every level of handling transportation, rail, bridge and road constructions.

Justice Sultan Hossain Khan yesterday told The Daily Star that the ACC will try to find out the assets of the "big fish" at home and abroad. "We already know that many of them have bought houses abroad and acquired huge properties in Bangladesh in the last few years. We are compiling the data," he said.

"We are compiling details about all the establishments and assets of Mamun, including his electric pole manufacturing company Khamba, and Channel 1. We want to know how he got the finances to start these ventures and through what process he launched his enterprises," he said speaking of Mamun.

As of yesterday, the ACC has not yet sued Orion Group chief Obaedul Karim, who maintained close link with BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman and Mamun and even swindled money from Oriental Bank in the name of Channel 1.

The ACC filed 34 cases against Oriental Bank employees in late December and January but mysteriously dropped Karim's name.

"We have now made all preparations to sue Karim...We will file a case very soon," the ACC chief said.

"We are planning to set up a secret service squad in the ACC which will operate undercover to collect information," he said, adding, "The squad will have many small teams which will compile data on bank deposit, assets, lifestyle and income of a suspect.

"

Earlier on Wednesday, Justice Sultan talked with Law Adviser Mainul Hosein on making the ACC fully functional. He requested the caretaker government to approve a pending rule that will enable the ACC to initiate graft cases against influential people.

ACC HIGH-UPS URGED TO QUIT
Communications Adviser Major General (retd) MA Matin yesterday said it would be easier to reform the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), if its chairman and members followed the footsteps of the election commissioners.

While speaking to reporters at his office at Bangladesh Secretariat yesterday, Matin urged the ACC officials to leave their posts with respect and the burden of failure.

He said at present no action can be taken against the corrupt people because the ACC is inoperative, adding, "If there were any allegations of corruption against my ministry then the files could have been sent to the ACC if it was operational."

The first meeting of the newly constituted advisory council committee on anti-corruption will be held on February 4 at the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs to identify the existing legal, administrative and institutional inadequacies and limitations in curbing corruption, UNB reports.

The agency quoted sources as saying several recommendations would be sought to plug numerous loopholes in the system.