Dhaka: It is the responsibility of the government, not the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), to repatriate BNP Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman, said ACC Secretary Md Faizur Rahman Chowdhury at a press briefing on Thursday.

Despite issuance of an arrest warrant by court against the elder son of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in a corruption case, it is not under the purview of the ACC to repatriate him, he said at the commission’s monthly press briefing at its Segunbagicha office in the city.

Replying to a question, he said, “The ACC is conducting the case against Tarique Rahman. Now it is in the court.”

He said, “We conduct the case against Tarique based on specific allegations. Now it is the responsibility of the law-enforcing agencies to arrest him.”

“As per the related law, the ACC investigator is empowered to exercise his power in his probe into the case to the extent that an OC of the police enjoys. The ACC investigator is also empowered to arrest the accused.”

When asked why the ACC was holding back despite having the power to arrest him, he did not make any direct reply.

He said, “It’s now in the court. It will follow the usual legal process.”          

Earlier on May 26 last lawyer Mosharraf Hossain Kajal filed a prayer with a lower court on behalf of the ACC to repatriate Tarique Rahman through the Interpol in a corruption case.

The court accepted the prayer and later issued the arrest warrant in English and also ordered the authorities to produce him before the court on his repatriation home through the Interpol.

According to the case statement, Tarique’s close associate Giasuddin Al-Mamun took Tk 20.41 crore from Nirman Construction Company Ltd owner Khadiza Islam promising to help her get the job of setting up an 80mw power plant at Tongi in Gazipur. Handover of the money took place in Singapore.

Later Mamun deposited the money in his account with the Citibank N.A. on the Capital Street in Singapore. Of the amount, Tarique Rahman allegedly spent Tk 3.78 crore. The case was filed with the Cantonment Police Station on October 26, 2009.

Ends/AR/July 18, 2013