Narsingdi: The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is going to launch an investigation into the alleged irregularities and corruption by the Deputy Commissioner of Narsingdi, says a top ACC official.

‘Of course, we’ll soon launch a probe against the deputy commissioner as per the specific allegations you’ve raised here,’ ACC commissioner Nasiruddin Ahmed told a public hearing organised by the Commission at local Shilpakala Academy in Narsingdi on Wednesday.

During the hearing, local people raised a number of specific graft allegations against DC Abu Hena Morshed Zaman showing documentary evidence.

Local journalist Mazharul Anwar presented an official document against Zaman and alleged that he finalised the process to hand over a piece of government land to a so-called school - Candle Light - which has no existence at all, at a much lower price for his personal gain.

There was a brick kiln in the land, but the DC is set to hand over the land to a person changing the category of the land as homestead, he said, adding that the price of the land is about 20 crore, but Zaman fixed its price at only 70 lakh.

Anwar also alleged that the government earlier asked the DC office to nominate a name of a woman for Begum Rokeya Award from the district, but he proposed his mother’s name for the award violating rules.

Showing documentary evidence, the journalist claimed the DC’s mother is even not an inhabitant of Narsingdi.

Like Anwar, many others alleged that Zaman is also involved in corruption in leasing out government land and cattle market, and recruiting lower-grade employees.

Although the Narsingdi DC was scheduled to preside over the public hearing of the national anti-graft agency, he did not turn up.

‘Nobody is above the law,’ Dr Nasiruddin Ahmed said, adding that all the graft suspects will be brought to justice as the Commission shows zero tolerance to corruption. ‘An offender is an offender. Nobody can escape,’ he added.

The ACC held the public hearing on services provided by upazila land office, Titas Gas Company Limited, passport office, BRTA office, settlement office, sub-registrar office, Upazila Palli Bidyut Samity, zila and upazila hospitals, upazila project implementation officer’s office and upazila primary and secondary education office of Narsingdi.

Representatives from these offices were present at the hearing chaired by assistant deputy commissioner of Narsingdi Jasim Uddin Haider. ACC director Nasim Anwar moderated it.