A special tribunal in Kushtia has framed charge on a case filed in allegation of using bamboo sticks as alternative of iron rod in the construction of a government-funded building in Chuadanga district.

Ashraful Islam, judge of the tribunal (a tribunal to trial corruption and special crimes) ordered to frame case on Monday filed by Anti-Corruption Commission Integrated Office in Kushtia.

Al-Mujahid Mithu, a lawyer at the ACC confirmed it today (Wednesday).

Four people have been accused in the case. They are Monir Hossain, proprietor of the construction company Joy International Limited, Ayub Hossain, in-charge of project equipment procurement at the Department of Agricultural Extension, Kamal Hossain, Planning, Project Implementation and Physical Infrastructure Management Branch of ICT Wing and Abdus Sattar, Managing Director of Consortium of the construction company.

According to the case, the construction work of 3,750 sq feet plant control office and a building under the Phyto Sanitary Capacity Strengthening Project at the Department of Agricultural Extension near Darshana Municipality of Chuadanga started on 1 December 2015 at a cost of Tk 2.10 crore.

The building was scheduled to be handed over in June 2017. Meanwhile, on the completion of about 70 percent of the work of the building, the people of the area staged a procession alleging the use of bamboo sticks instead of iron rods in the construction of the building on 6 April 2016. When the incident spread quickly, there was a nationwide reaction. Later, the project director Sadeq Ibn Shams and two other officials were transferred.

The construction company Joy International Limited of Farmgate, Dhaka was responsible for the construction of the building.

The Department of Agricultural Extension formed a committee headed by Marina Jebunnahar, senior monitoring and evaluation officer. Marina Jebunnahar filed a criminal case accusing Monir Hossain, proprietor of the construction company Joy International Limited, Ayub Hossain, in-charge of project equipment procurement at the Department of Agricultural Extension, Kamal Hossain, Planning, Project Implementation and Physical Infrastructure Management Branch of ICT Wing and Abdus Sattar, Managing Director of Consortium of the construction company with Damurhuda police station in 12 April 2016.

In addition, the department blacklisted Joy International. Monir Hossain was arrested in the incident but is now out on bail.

The probe body report was submitted in July 2016 after the investigation. Later, Chuadanga Senior Judicial Magistrate court sent the case filed under Sections 406 and 427 of the Penal Code for fraud and causing damage to the Anti-Corruption Commission’s Kushtia Integrated office for investigation.

According to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) office, the ACC filed a charge sheet in the court on November 20, 2018. As there is no court designated for such cases, no hearing has been held on the formation of charges in the case.

Al-Mujahid Mithu, a lawyer at the Anti-Corruption Commission's (ACC) office, said such a court was set up under the Kushtia District and Sessions Court at the end of last year and a judge (equivalent to a district judge) was appointed.

He said the case could not be taken to court due to the Corona crisis for the entire last year. He said the judicial process of the case would be completed soon.