'Fake news' being spread about corruption in DC appointment: Secretary Mokhles ur Rahman
A controversy arose after the daily Kalbela published a report on 24 September, claiming that businessman Mirza Sabed Ali had offered a Tk3 crore cheque to a joint secretary in the Public Administration Ministry to secure the appointment of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Director Md Abdul Awal as DC of Naogaon
Screenshots of messages with Joint Secretary Zia Uddin regarding exchange of money during deputy commissioner appointment is "fake news" claimed Public Admin Secretary Mokhles ur Rahman.
In a press briefing at the Secretariat today, he also said that he is not giving any importance to this news.
He said, "The phone mentioned in the news is iPhone. Do I use any iPhone? I use Samsung. Ask them who showed them what. I belong to a middle-class family. I don't even use the mobile phone given by the government. I use my own number."
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When asked if he would take any action, he said, three steps have already been taken and a letter has been sent to the Ministry of Information to take action against them. A letter has been sent to the Home secretary to arrest the person who issued the fake cheque. And Bangladesh Bank has been asked to take necessary measures to stop opening such [fake] accounts.
"Anyone can say anything. We work with the people from our position in the government. I will continue my work as long as Allah wills," he added.
A controversy arose after the daily Kalbela published a report on 24 September, claiming that businessman Mirza Sabed Ali had offered a Tk3 crore cheque to a joint secretary in the Public Administration Ministry to secure the appointment of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Director Md Abdul Awal as DC of Naogaon. The report also alleged that the cheque was recovered from the official's office, though it had not been cashed as the posting was not granted.
Later today (3 October) the newspaper published another report indicting Public Admin Secretary Mokhles ur Rahman and Joint Secretary Zia Uddin of having a conversation where Mokhles ur Rahman asked for Tk5 crore for a DC appointment while Zia Uddin offered double that (Tk10 crore).
