Staff Correspondent:

The Deputy Commissioners (DCs) who steered the much-talked ‘midnight voting’ during the fascist Awami League regime are under the surveillance of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

ACC is working to find financial irregularities, illegal wealth and other irregularities of those DCs who well known as ‘devil DC’.

Many have amassed wealth by doing misdeeds including running the ‘midnight voting’ in exchange for the benefits of some candidates. Now they are to face consequences as they are held in ACC’s rudder.

The ministry of public administration (MoPA) also shares concealed information related to those DCs with ACC, resulting in a fear mounting among those DCs. Besides, many of them are under surveillance intelligence agencies.

Sources revealed that raid could be conducted anytime at their residences and they could be arrested if charged in any cases.

Sources from secretariat and ACC said that complaints were filed with ACC about the 11th national parliament election in 2018.

The complaints include, casting vote at night, vote rigging, showing more than 90pc vote casting in some centers, massive financial transactions, and mal-practicing power to win candidates.

The public administration department also asked then officials to provide with necessary documents in this regard.

DCs led the ‘midnight voting’ at that time while Superintendents of Police (SPs) played a crucial role in implementing the plan.

MoPA sources said that some 45 DCs who were in charge of their jurisdictions in 10th and 11th national elations in 2014, and 2018 respectively had been made OSD and 21 on forced retirement. However, most of the DCs who were made OSC and sent into forced retirement were in charge of 2018 election.

According to ministry sources, “17, 18, 20, and 21st batch cadre DCs were in charge of 2018 election. Among them, many who have completed 25 years in service from the 17th and 18th batches have been sent into forced retirement. And BCS 20th and 21st batch officers have been made OSD.

Multiple sources informed that then DCs amassed illegal wealth in home and abroad by receiving unlawful benefits.

MoPA senior secretary Mokhlesur Rahman said in this regard that they (then DCs) have committed heinous crime (financial).

“There are many rumors in the air,” he said, ensuring that the ministry will sent those true incidents of financial irregularities to the ACC.

Source said that some of the documents were sent to ACC in the meantime, following the directives of the ministry secretary.

Besides, those DCs are kept under surveillance of intelligence agencies to make sure that they are not fleeting the country, the source continued.

“The track records of those DCs as UNO-AC Land will be investigated,” source wishing to be unnamed revealed the information to the media.

ACC Director General (DG) Md Akhtar Hossain had announced that an investigation would be conducted against everyone involved in the election, including the Election Commission, administration, police, and RAB. Information is being collected on who amassed how much wealth in their name and anonymously.

Former secretary AKM Abdul Awal Mazumder that all information, including the wealth of those who have committed corruption and misused power, should be made public. And we must also be careful that no good person is harmed due to personal preferences and dislikes.