Fake Mujibnagar govt staff managed lofty jobs
107 out of 190 were aged below 10 in 1971, reveals probe
An enquiry conducted by the law ministry revealed massive anomalies in last year's appointment of 190 sub-registrars who forged documents to get the jobs as staff of the Mujibnagar government-in-exile. Astonishingly, it found that 107 of 190 were below 10 years in 1971 and only one was above 18 then.
But all of them managed certificates to prove them staff of the Mujibnagar government and got the high-ranking jobs under the law ministry, according to the probe report. They all have even been posted around the country.The probe body recommended taking legal action against 189 in connection with criminal offence. One of the 190 is now dead.
"On investigation, it was proved that none of them served at all as staff of the Mujibnagar government during the Liberation War," the probe report concluded examining all records. On receiving the report, the parliamentary standing committee on law ministry yesterday at a meeting expressed surprise at the findings and observed that the 190 managed to get the jobs by bribing some government high officials Tk 20 to 25 lakh.
It alleged that an unholy alliance of a few high officials of the cabinet division and the establishment ministry worked to get them the jobs, meeting sources said.
The parliamentary body also alleged that suppressing facts about them, they managed to obtain a Supreme Court order in favour of them.The government appointed them in line with the court's order. The parliamentary body also asked the law ministry to come up with the particulars of all officials who joined government jobs from 1972 to date as staff of the Mujibnagar government.
"We are astonished at the information about the age of 190 sub-registrars. Some of them were suckling babies in 1971. How could they the be staff of the Mujibnagar government?" Abdul Matin Khasru, a member of the parliamentary body, told The Daily Star after the meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
He said the committee received allegations from different sources that a good number of those who joined government jobs in high-ranking posts like sub-registrar, custom officer and income tax officer since 1972, claiming to be Mujibnagar government's staffs, illegally made incredible moveable and unmoveable properties.
"We will decide the next course of action after receiving information on other officials who got government jobs through fake educational certificates and age certificates," Khasru, also former law minister, said.
He said some members of the parliamentary body recommended that the government should suspend them from the job and take account of their wealth. There were outbursts from the members of the standing committee at the meeting. They said many wounded freedom fighters are loitering on the streets and begging and they did not get government jobs.
PROBE BODY FINDINGS
In the wake of allegations, the parliamentary body asked the law ministry to investigate the matter. The ministry on June 19 this year formed a three-member probe body headed by its Joint Secretary Maznul Ahsan. Examining personal information including educational certificates of 190 officials, the probe body placed the voluminous report before the parliamentary body yesterday.
According to the probe report, ages of four sub-registrars were at best three years in 1971, 13 officials were between three and five years, 39 were between five and seven, 21 were between seven and eight, 18 were between eight and nine, 12 were between nine and 10, 20 were between 10 and 11, 11 were between 11 and 12, 12 were between 12 and 13, 13 were between 13 and 14, 11 were between 14 and 15, eight were between 15 and 16, five were between 16 to 17, and two were between 17 and 18 years in 1971.
The probe body interviewed the 189 officials. "None of them could give satisfactory answer to the query as to where and under whose authority they worked as Mujibnagar government staff," the probe report said.
It said none of them was able to recall any incident during their service to the Mujibnagar government. Citing an example, the probe report said Sabina Yasmin was physically challenged from birth. But she submitted a certificate that she served as an assistant to a nurse when she was six years and three months old in 1971. "It is absolutely unbelievable and unrealistic," the probe report said.
But all of them managed certificates to prove them staff of the Mujibnagar government and got the high-ranking jobs under the law ministry, according to the probe report. They all have even been posted around the country.The probe body recommended taking legal action against 189 in connection with criminal offence. One of the 190 is now dead.
"On investigation, it was proved that none of them served at all as staff of the Mujibnagar government during the Liberation War," the probe report concluded examining all records. On receiving the report, the parliamentary standing committee on law ministry yesterday at a meeting expressed surprise at the findings and observed that the 190 managed to get the jobs by bribing some government high officials Tk 20 to 25 lakh.
It alleged that an unholy alliance of a few high officials of the cabinet division and the establishment ministry worked to get them the jobs, meeting sources said.
The parliamentary body also alleged that suppressing facts about them, they managed to obtain a Supreme Court order in favour of them.The government appointed them in line with the court's order. The parliamentary body also asked the law ministry to come up with the particulars of all officials who joined government jobs from 1972 to date as staff of the Mujibnagar government.
"We are astonished at the information about the age of 190 sub-registrars. Some of them were suckling babies in 1971. How could they the be staff of the Mujibnagar government?" Abdul Matin Khasru, a member of the parliamentary body, told The Daily Star after the meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
He said the committee received allegations from different sources that a good number of those who joined government jobs in high-ranking posts like sub-registrar, custom officer and income tax officer since 1972, claiming to be Mujibnagar government's staffs, illegally made incredible moveable and unmoveable properties.
"We will decide the next course of action after receiving information on other officials who got government jobs through fake educational certificates and age certificates," Khasru, also former law minister, said.
He said some members of the parliamentary body recommended that the government should suspend them from the job and take account of their wealth. There were outbursts from the members of the standing committee at the meeting. They said many wounded freedom fighters are loitering on the streets and begging and they did not get government jobs.
PROBE BODY FINDINGS
In the wake of allegations, the parliamentary body asked the law ministry to investigate the matter. The ministry on June 19 this year formed a three-member probe body headed by its Joint Secretary Maznul Ahsan. Examining personal information including educational certificates of 190 officials, the probe body placed the voluminous report before the parliamentary body yesterday.
According to the probe report, ages of four sub-registrars were at best three years in 1971, 13 officials were between three and five years, 39 were between five and seven, 21 were between seven and eight, 18 were between eight and nine, 12 were between nine and 10, 20 were between 10 and 11, 11 were between 11 and 12, 12 were between 12 and 13, 13 were between 13 and 14, 11 were between 14 and 15, eight were between 15 and 16, five were between 16 to 17, and two were between 17 and 18 years in 1971.
The probe body interviewed the 189 officials. "None of them could give satisfactory answer to the query as to where and under whose authority they worked as Mujibnagar government staff," the probe report said.
It said none of them was able to recall any incident during their service to the Mujibnagar government. Citing an example, the probe report said Sabina Yasmin was physically challenged from birth. But she submitted a certificate that she served as an assistant to a nurse when she was six years and three months old in 1971. "It is absolutely unbelievable and unrealistic," the probe report said.
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