New Nation, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Thursday, May 15, 2008

Bangladesh envoy to UAE sued for corruption
UNB, Dhaka

The Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday filed a case against Nazim
Ullah Chowdhury, Bangladesh ambassador to the United Arab Emirates,
for financial irregularities and causing loss to the national
exchequer through misuse of power.

Deputy director of the ACC Abdullah Al Zahid filed the first-
information report (FIR) with Shahbagh police station, alleging that
the envoy "caused a loss of about Tk 20 lakh to the state, committed
corruption in appointing gardeners and misappropriating money".

This happens to the first graft case against any incumbent ambassador
of the country under the ongoing drives in the interim period against
corruption.

The FIR states that the ambassador caused loss to the country's
exchequer by shifting the ambassador's residence to a "farer place at
more expensive price".

It was also alleged that the envoy showed appointments of gardeners
for the embassy in Abu Dhabi but never appointed them. Instead, he
allegedly misappropriated the salary the gardeners were supposed to
get.

The FIR also said Nazim allegedly showed purchase of furniture for the
embassy but "misappropriated the money".

The case was filed under section 5(2) of the Corruption Prevention Act
1947 and 409 of the Penal Code.

Earlier in February, Zahid made a trip to the UAE to inquire into the
corruption allegations about the ambassador and other officials of the
embassy. The inquiry took place based on a complaint lodged with the
Commission.