HC Orders ACC to Probe Allegations against Poton Traders

The High Court today ordered the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to conduct an enquiry into the allegation against Poton Traders, a contracting firm, of embezzling 72,000 tonnes of imported chemical fertiliser for which the government lost Tk 582 crore.

The ACC has also been asked to submit the enquiry report to the HC in 60 days.

At the same time, the HC also ordered Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) chairman to give an explanation about the reported allegations to this court by January 20.

The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat Lizu passed the order on a suomuto (voluntary) rule following a news report published on a Bangla daily on this issue.

According to the report, Poton Traders have misappropriated 72,000 tonnes of government's imported chemical fertiliser without carrying those to warehouses after those were released from the port.

Former lawmaker Kamrul Ashraf Khan (Poton), who is the president of Bangladesh Fertiliser Association, is the owner of Poton Traders, the report said._agencies