The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has initiated legal action against several employees of Savanna Eco Resort and Natural Park, owned by former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed, for attempting to steal and sell fish from the resort's pond.
Md Sohrab Hossain Sohel, assistant director of the Gopalganj ACC office, lodged the case at Gopalganj Sadar police station on Friday night. Among the accused is Safiqul Islam, the hatchery officer, along with other unidentified individuals.
ACC Deputy Director and Public Relations Officer Md Aktarul Islam stated that on May 23, the Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Court of Dhaka ordered the freezing of assets and 33 bank accounts related to Benazir Ahmed, including those of Savanna Eco Resort and Natural Park. The process of appointing a receiver for these assets is underway.
Reports indicated that various assets, including fish from the resort's pond, were being stolen. Upon receiving this information, ACC authorities conducted an on-site investigation.
According to the case statement, Md Sohrab Hossain Sohel, following instructions from Md Moshiur Rahman, deputy director of the ACC Gopalganj district office, visited the resort with a team around 5 pm on Friday. They discovered fishermen catching fish in a 20-acre pond at the resort. The hatchery official and others fled upon the team's arrival. The fishermen confessed they were fishing on Safiqul Islam's orders. Higher authorities were informed, and legal proceedings were initiated.
Due to the perishable nature of the fish, the seized catch was auctioned off for Tk83,754 with assistance from the assistant commissioner (land) of Sadar upazila, Gopalganj district, and the senior upazila fisheries officer. The proceeds were handed over to the Senior Fisheries Officer of Gopalganj Sadar Upazila SM Zillur Rahman Regan to be deposited in the government sector.
The case involved an attempt to embezzle Tk83,754 by selling 555kg of tilapia fish and 37.5kg of katla fish from the pond. Following the latest court order, the district administration has taken control of the resort, and an inventory of all park goods is in progress.
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