ACC summons ICT ministry official Atique, wife

Irregularities were committed in a job appointment at state-backed Nagad, despite a shakeup in the administration following last year’s anti-fascist uprising, according to preliminary findings of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Atique Murshed, a student representative in the ICT ministry, was among those overseeing a revamp in Nagad, which was plagued with corruption during the Awami League fascist regime.

ACC Director General Akhter Hossain has confirmed finding proofs of irregularities in the appointment of Atique’s wife, Jakia Sultana Jui. The couple has been summoned at the ACC office for questioning, ACC Assistant Director Ikram Hossain said after conducting a raid at Nagad office in Gulshan.

Two days ago, a newspaper ran a report claiming Atique was involved in embezzling Tk150 crore and appointing his wife as the compliance manager at Nagad.

Atique served in the office of Nahid Islam, former ICT minister and a key street demonstrator against Awami League misrule. Now, Atique serves as an assistant to Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, the chief adviser’s special assistant for the ICT ministry.

On Friday night, in light of the corruption allegations, Atique published a facebook post refuting the claims. He said his wife earned a temporary post at Nagad by dint of her own merit. However, he admitted the appointment could be seen as a “conflict of interests.”

Furthermore, numerous social media posts pointed to an unverified image of the job identity card belonging to Atique’s wife. According to the card’s information, Atique’s wife is working as a “compliance manager” at Nagad on a “permanent basis.”