The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against 10 people from the board, including former chairman of the Dhaka WASA board of directors Md. Habibur Rahman and the controversial former managing director (MD) Engineer Taksim A Khan, on charges of recruitment corruption.

On Wednesday (January 8), Deputy Director of the ACC's Dhaka-1 office Syed Nazrul Islam filed the case as the plaintiff.

The complaint alleged that the chairman and members of the Dhaka WASA board of directors conspired with each other to abuse their power and appoint two people of their choice outside the organogram and without creating any legal positions in Dhaka WASA and without following the recruitment policies and prevailing rules and regulations.

ACC Director General and Spokesperson Md. Akhter Hossain confirmed the case in a briefing.

The accused mentioned in the complaint are former chairman of the Dhaka WASA board, Professor Engineer Dr. Md. Habibur Rahman, Board Member, Former Additional Secretary (Budget-2) of the Ministry of Finance Sudhangshu Shekhar Biswas, Former Vice President of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh Md. Mahmud Hossain, Former Vice President of Engineers Institution Bangladesh Engineer Md. Nuruzzaman, Former President of Institution of Diploma Engineers Engineer AKMA Hamid, Councilor of Ward No. 26 of Dhaka South City Corporation Md. Hasibur Rahman Manik, Councilor of Ward No. 12 of Dhaka North City Corporation Aleya Sarwar Daisy, MD of Dhaka WASA Engineer Taksim A Khan, Former Director (Development) Abul Kashem and Former Director (Technical) AKM Shahid Uddin. 

Hasnat Abdullah, the central convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, has said to the interim government, you should run the country properly. Sometimes you make various excuses, the hands of the syndicate have changed, the hands of extortion have changed. You were not brought to make excuses; you were brought to take action. Now the hand of the one who extorts will be broken.

He said these things to journalists after a public relations meeting at the Cumilla Town Hall ground on Wednesday (January 8) afternoon. Earlier, the Anti-Discrimination Movement and the National Citizens Committee started public relations and leaflet distribution from the Cumilla Police Line.

He also said that the Proclamation of July Revolution should be announced by January 15. Even after so many days have passed since December 31, we have not seen any visible action from the government. We can still hear the cries of the martyrs and injured in the July uprising. They have been deprived of their right to benefits on the pretext of bureaucratic complications. In post-‘24 Bangladesh, bureaucratic complications will not be tolerated.

He also said that the current government should have taken proper responsibility for the families of the injured and deceased since August 5, but the government is still indifferent to this issue.

The people of Cumilla were the first to start the movement against fascism, and it was because of Hasina's sleeplessness that the people of Cumilla were there. Fascism has always echoed from Cumilla. Its continuity will continue from Cumilla.

Leaders of the district's anti-discrimination student movement and the National Citizens' Committee were present at the time.

Fourteen years have passed since the murder of Felani, a teenager who was the victim of the controversial border killing in Kolnitari village of Nageshwari upazila of Kurigram, but the family was disappointed and deprived as they did not get justice. After 14 years, the family went to Dhaka to meet the new government with the hope of justice. With that hope in mind, Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan, Adviser to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives of the current government, has assured that he will give jobs to Felani's brothers and take responsibility for supporting the family.

Felani's father Nur Islam, mother Jahanara Begum and younger brother Jahan Uddin met him at his residence on Tuesday (January 7) night.

Jahan Uddin, the younger brother of the deceased Felani Khatun, confirmed the matter of taking responsibility. He said, 'Last night we met Asif Bhai. He assured that he would give jobs to a total of 3 of our brothers after they complete their studies. He also assured a fair trial for my sister's murder.'

Father Nur Islam said, 'For the past 14 years, the Awami League government has not provided justice despite assuring justice for my daughter's murder. I have appealed to the Bangladesh government many times for justice for the murder of my daughter. But I have not received justice. Yesterday I met Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan. He has assured that he will give a fair trial for the murder of my daughter. He has also taken responsibility for my family. We are grateful to this government.'

It is worth noting that Felani is the eldest child of Nur Islam and Jahanara couple from Kolnitari village of Ramkhana union in Nageshwari upazila. On January 7, 2011, 14-year-old Felani from Kolnitari village of Nageshwari upazila in Kurigram was killed in firing by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF). Today, Tuesday (January 7), 14 years have passed since the brutal murder of the girl Felani, but the trial of Felani's murder has not yet ended.

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has arrived in London for advanced treatment.

The air ambulance carrying her landed at Heathrow Airport at 2:55 pm on Wednesday (January 8) Bangladesh time.

After monitoring her physical condition at the airport, Khaleda Zia may be admitted to a London clinic. An ambulance has been kept ready for this.

Earlier, the air ambulance carrying Khaleda Zia left Dhaka at 11:45 pm on Tuesday (January 7). The BNP Chairperson made a stopover in Doha on her nearly eight-hour journey before reaching London.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Qatar Nazrul Islam met and inquired about the Chairperson's physical condition. Earlier, leaders and activists started gathering in Gulshan in groups since the afternoon surrounding Khaleda's London trip. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir entered Khaleda Zia's residence after the evening.

People from all walks of life, including BNP leaders and activists, gathered on both sides of the road in Gulshan and on the way to the airport to bid farewell to Khaleda Zia.