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Cag seeks JS cover in rail graft probe

Feels constitutional rights infringed on as access to documents denied, JS body to summon top officials on July 20

SHAKHAWAT LITON
Comptroller and Auditor General (Cag) Asif Ali yesterday sought protection of the Public Accounts Committee (Pac) of the Jatiya Sangsad against violation of the constitutional rights of his office by the Railway Division.
Members of Pac took strong note of the di vision under the communi -cations ministry and demanded
exemplary punishment for the guilty, terming their behaviour unprecedented.
They decided to summon the secretary of die ministry, director general of the Railway Division and officials concerned at its next meet-ingslatcd for July20.
"My constitutional rights are jeopardised as the officials of the railway did not allow my officials to discharge their dudes. My officials
were harassed when they went to probe irregularities in railway's activities," Asif told a Pac meeting.
"I want your protection as my rights have been infringed upon,” sources quoted Asifastcllingtiie Pac meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
"We asked the comptroller and auditor general to submit a written petition to the committee. We will discuss it at the next meeting and
decide on the issue," Pac chairman 1 larun Al Rashid told The Daily Star yesterday.
"The Cag's office is entitled by the constitution to get any documents or information from government offices. As the Cag's office raised violation of its constitutional rights, we will probe die allegation."
Asif raised die issue at the end of the meeting and said he contacted
SEE PAGE 11 COL 6 the communications secretary and the railway director general. The director general said he was helpless and the secretary was yet to reply.
He said a team of his office recently went to the railway division to check purchase documents, but the officials there misbehaved with them and denied them access to the papers.
Committee member and opposition Jatiya Party lawmaker Mashiur Rahman Ranga said the officials concerned should be grilled on remand.
Ruling BNP lawmaker Sultan Mahmud Babu said: "We should give hundred percent protection to the Cag's office."
The meeting also discussed audit objections stemming from the civil aviation and tourism and the shipping ministries.