For the first time in the history of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the agency has filed a case against a commissioner-level official. Former commissioner Md. Zahurul Haque and six others have been accused of illegally reducing BTRC’s international incoming call termination rates and revenue share, causing a loss of about Tk 9,000 crore to the state.
The case was filed by ACC Director Jalal Uddin Ahmed. The accused include former BTRC Chairman Sunil Kanti Bose, former Vice Chairman Brigadier General (retd) Ahsan Habib Khan, former Chairman Dr. Shahjahan Mahmud, former Commissioners Rezaul Quader and Aminul Hasan.
The complaint states that between 2015 and 2018, BTRC, without government approval, halved the call termination fee at the experimental rate and reduced the government’s revenue share. This resulted in huge losses through not bringing in foreign currency from international calls, bringing in calls at lower rates, and changing the revenue share.
There are other allegations against Zahurul Haque – taking bribes while he was the chairman of BTRC, acquiring illegal wealth and later abusing power by taking charge as ACC commissioner. He acquired multiple plots in the name of himself and his wife in the Purbachal residential project of RAJUK, which is against the rules. For this reason, the Ministry of Home Affairs has cancelled his passport and banned him from traveling abroad.
A case has been filed against the accused under sections 409 and 418 of the Penal Code, as well as the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.