A corruption case over the alleged misappropriation of Tk2 crore in railway land acquisition compensation in Cox’s Bazar has remained stalled for six years, with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) yet to submit its investigation report to the court.
The case concerns compensation money meant for 20 impoverished families from Lomboripara in Fatehkharkul union of Ramu upazila. The funds were allegedly withdrawn in 2020 through forged signatures from the district administration’s Land Acquisition (LA) office.
Despite repeated directives from the court, the ACC has not placed its findings before the judiciary, raising allegations that the anti-graft agency is delaying the process to shield influential officials implicated in the case.
Among those accused are former Cox’s Bazar Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Ashraful Afsar, Land Acquisition Officer Abu Hasnat, Additional Land Acquisition Officer Debotosh Chakraborty, Kanungo Mokhlesur Rahman, surveyor Masud Rana and several alleged brokers and local collaborators.
The case was filed by Jahanara Begum, who claims that compensation funds belonging to her family and other rightful heirs were illegally withdrawn through forged documents.
According to the complaint, the affected land belonged to the heirs of the late Abu Bakkar, including Nasir Mohammad, Chakina Khatun, Pakhi Jan and Sona Bibi, who had inherited the property through ancestral succession.
The families said they had been occupying and cultivating the land for generations until 2018.
After the government initiated the land acquisition process for railway construction, ownership disputes emerged among heirs, and four related cases were filed in court.
Jahanara said the court had issued an order instructing the LA office not to release compensation payments until case No 370/18 was resolved.
However, officials of the LA office, in alleged collusion with brokers and local associates, withdrew the compensation funds by forging signatures and issuing cheques despite the court order.
The plaintiffs say the alleged fraud was uncovered after the case was filed, when investigators seized documents and other records during inquiries.
Sources familiar with the investigation say evidence also indicated involvement by several government officials. Although some of them were later transferred, no disciplinary action was taken.
According to ACC sources, three different investigation officers have handled the case over the past six years. None has submitted an investigation report to the court.
Victims and plaintiffs claim the repeated transfer of investigators has contributed to the prolonged delay.
Osman Gani, who is pursuing the case on behalf of the heirs under the registered power of attorney from Jahanara Begum and other family members, said the victims had repeatedly provided evidence to investigators.
He said audio recordings allegedly documenting irregularities in compensation withdrawals and bribery were submitted to ACC investigators on pen drives and memory cards.
Despite that, he said, the investigation report has not been filed.
Gani also alleged that corruption in the LA office was widespread at the time the case was filed.
He said individuals seeking compensation for land acquisition often had to pay commissions ranging from 35 per cent to 50 per cent to officials and brokers to receive their payments.
He further alleged that similar commissions were taken in advance in cases where funds were withdrawn through forged documentation.
The court had earlier instructed the ACC to submit its investigation findings within 60 days, but the directive was not implemented.
On 25 January this year, Senior Special Judge and District and Sessions Judge Abdur Rahim again ordered the current investigation officer, Anik Barua, to file the report.
The deadline has since passed without submission.
Gani also alleged that investigators attempted to influence local authorities during the inquiry.
He said the investigation officer recently sought heirship certificates and records from Fatehkharkul Union Parishad but later refused to accept the documents submitted by the council.
Acting chairman of the union council Kamal Uddin confirmed that the investigator had visited the office during the inquiry.
He said the council had provided information according to official records and declined to alter the documents.
When contacted by phone, ACC investigation officer Anik Barua said he was currently on leave after his recent marriage and advised contacting the office for further information.
A previous investigation officer, ACC Assistant Director Taposhir Billah, said inquiries should be directed to the ACC office and denied receiving any pen drive or documentary evidence from the complainants.
Lawyer for the plaintiffs Advocate Tutul Pal said the continued delay had left the victims frustrated.
He said the court had repeatedly urged the ACC to submit its report but the agency had yet to comply.
Pal added that the complainant had spent years pursuing the case and was now financially exhausted.
Attempts to contact ACC Cox’s Bazar Integrated District Office Deputy Director Mostafizur Rahman for comment were unsuccessful. His phone remained unanswered for two days and sources said he was not currently in Cox’s Bazar.
