Taposh bins Khokon’s corruption allegations
Taposh said Khokon was motivated by personal resentment to make baseless allegations
Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh has said corruption allegations raised against him by the former mayor were baseless.
"Sayeed Khokon's words were motivated by personal resentment. His comments do not bother me," said Taposh.
"It was his personal opinion. It does not matter. And the allegations of not being able to pay the city corporation employees are simply wrong and baseless," Taposh said on Sunday morning in Dhanmondi after paying homage to the portrait of Bangabandhu, to commemorate Bangabandhu's Homecoming Day.
On Saturday, former mayor Sayeed Khokon said corruption had made incumbent Mayor Fazle Noor Taposh ineligible to hold the post.
Taposh yesterday said, "Making insane comments does not suit a responsible person."
He explained that corruption occurs when anyone takes money with a promise to return it, accepts bribes, trades commissions to get a job, embezzles government money, takes commissions to give loans and uses government influence for personal gain. Allegations made by Khokon are completely groundless and without basis in fact, he opined.
Commenting on Sayeed Khokon's allegations of irregularities in transferring Dhaka South's money to Modhumoti Bank, Taposh said, "Deposits have been collected in Modhumoti Bank in compliance with all rules. There is nothing illegal or even a trace of corruption in any of this."
Sayeed Khokon raised the allegations against Taposh during a human chain event in front of Kadam Foara in the High Court area organised to demand rehabilitation of the businessmen who suffered losses during eviction drives at two markets in the Gulistan area.
At the event, Khokon said, "Taposh has transferred hundreds of crores of taka to Modhumoti bank, which he owns. He has been making profit to the tune of crores of taka by investing the money in several individuals and institutions."
"On the other hand, poor employees of the city corporation have not been paid for months, and various development projects have been stalled due to lack of funds," he added.