The High Court has directed the government to implement the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1979, regarding the submission and disclosure of wealth statements of government officials and employees.
At the same time, the High Court ordered to submit a progress report within the next three months on what steps have been taken to implement the rule.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Kazi Ebadoth Hossain passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed in this regard.
On Monday, a writ petition was filed with the High Court seeking its directives to submit the wealth statement of the government officials and publish it on the website.
Writ petitioner lawyer Subir Nandi Das, on Sunday, said: "I have filed the writ seeking instructions to submit the wealth statement of the government officials and employees to the authorities in the proper manner as mentioned in the law.”
Ten people, including secretaries to the Cabinet Division, Ministry of Public Administration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Anti-Corruption Commission chairman and Bangladesh Bank governor, have been made respondents to the rule.
Meanwhile, The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has issued a notice seeking the wealth statements of former inspector general of police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed and Matiur Rahman, the former president of the National Board of Revenue's (NBR) Customs, Excise, and VAT Appellate Tribunal within 21 working days.
The notice also seeks information about the assets of their wives and children.
ACC Secretary Khorsheda Yasmeen confirmed the information at a press briefing in Dhaka on Tuesday.
Benazir and his family previously missed several ACC quizzes.
Court orders to appoint magistrate for entering into Benazir's flatsCourt orders to appoint magistrate for entering into Benazir's flats
During his tenure, Benazir Ahmed served as IGP from April 2020 to September 2022, as director general of the Rapid Action Battalion from January 2015 to April 2020, and as commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
ACC officials reported that court orders had been issued to seize Benazir’s assets.
So far, 12 flats in Dhaka, including four in Gulshan, have been identified under his family’s name.
Meanwhile, Matiur Rahman’s name was the talk of the town on social media this Eid-ul-Azha after rumors surfaced that his son had purchased a goat for an astonishing Tk15 lakh.
The exorbitant price of the goat sparked widespread attention, along with a mix of curiosity and controversy.
However, Matiur Rahman denied these claims, saying: "Iffat, the person being talked about, is neither my son nor even a relative or acquaintance. My only son's name is Toufiqur Rahman. I will formally protest these rumours."
Subsequently, scrutiny fell on Matiur Rahman and his family’s lifestyle.
Several media reports said that Matiur Rahman and his family own resorts, shooting spots, bungalow houses, land, and other properties.
‘Govt employees must submit wealth statement’
The High Court has directed the government to implement the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1979, regarding the submission and disclosure of wealth statements of government officials and employees.
At the same time, the High Court ordered to submit a progress report within the next three months on what steps have been taken to implement the rule.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Kazi Ebadoth Hossain passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed in this regard on Tuesday.