JP chairman GM Quader under ACC scanner

The Anti-Corruption Commission on Thursday decided to initiate an inquiry into allegations of money laundering and bribery against Jatiya Party chairman Ghulam Muhammed Quader.

The commission also alleged that GM Quader amassed illegal wealth through his involvement in the nomination process of the reserved women’s parliamentary seats and for ‘position trading’ within the party.

The ACC took the decision about the inquiry at a meeting of the commission, said ACC director general (prevention) Akhtar Hossain at a regular press briefing held at the ACC headquarters on the day.

According to the allegations, GM Quader fraudulently become Jatiya Party chairman and amassed a huge amount of money through ‘position trading’ and the nomination business.

After the 2018 national election, a total of Tk 18.10 crore had been taken as bribes for the nomination as lawmakers for reserved women’s seats of the Jatiya Party, Akhtar Hossain said, adding that the primary beneficiary of this transaction was then acting chairman GM Quader.

When the agreed payment was not made in full, professor Masuda M Rashid Chowdhury was suspended from her party position and GM Quader’s wife, Sharifa Quader, was appointed as a lawmaker in her place, said the ACC.

Although the Jatiya Party’s central committee originally comprised 301 members, it currently includes around 600-650 people, which is evidence of ‘position trading’, said the ACC official.

Citing allegations, ACC DG Akhtar Hossain also said that GM Quader laundered money under different names to Singapore, London, and Sydney.

GM Quader has been elected as lawmaker from different constituencies since 1996 and has served as the Leader of the Opposition in Jatiya Sangsad.

He was also a minister of civil aviation and tourism ministry as well as the commerce ministry between 2009 and 2014.