Printing Textbook ACC asked to explain why probe won’t be ordered

The High Court on Tuesday directed the Anti-Corruption Commission to explain in four weeks why it would not be asked to investigate the use of low quality paper in printing textbooks by the National Curriculum and Textbook Board.

The court also directed the textbook board and eight others to explain why their inaction in ensuring standard of quality paper in the textbooks would not be declared illegal.

The eight other respondents are secondary and higher education division secretary, primary and mass education secretary, finance secretary, the textbook board chairman and secretary, the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection director general, the Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institution chairman and Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research chairman.

The bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader passed the order after hearing a public interest litigation writ petition filed by Consumer Association of Bangladesh. 

Petitioner’s lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua argued that the association’s investigation found that Tk 160 crore was misappropriated only in 2018 by using the low quality paper in textbooks and the textbook board chairman and secretary were involved in corruption.

Though the matter comes under the jurisdiction of the commission, it has taken no action so far to prevent the ongoing misappropriation of public fund, he contended.  

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net