Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - Railway Minister of Bangladesh Suranjit Sengupta on Monday resigned from the cabinet following the last week's alleged financial scandal against him.
"An impartial investigation into the financial scandal will prove me clean," he said while claiming his innocence at a press briefing at the Railway Bhaban in the capital Dhaka just before his resignation from the cabinet.
The senior Awami League leader and a veteran parliamentarian said he is taking responsibility for the failures relating to the financial scandal but the government or the party (Awami League) will not be held responsible for it.
"I am not at all involved in the financial scandal and the allegation brought against me was an attempt to create an issue to tarnish my image," the minister said.
He said a vested quarter always tried to create chaos to stop development of the country's main economic transportation- the Railway, for their narrow self interest.
“I took the decision for the sake of fair investigation, and to set example acting beyond the existing practice and to uphold democracy,” he added.
His party – Awami League – or the government has nothing to do in this regard, Suranjit said, adding: “As the minister, all the responsibility of the ministry is mine.”
The decision of the Railway minister's resignation came a week after law enforcement agencies detained one of his (Sengupta's) official aides and two railway officials, who were going to his (minister's) residence along with BDT 70,00,000 on the night of April 9.
On the day assistant private secretary (APS) to the railway minister Omar Faruq Talukder, railway general manager Yusuf Ali Mridha and divisional commandant of its security force Enamul Huq were going to the minister's house along with the said money.
At one stage, their car driver suddenly drove the vehicle to the headquarters of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) at Peelkhana in Dhaka. The driver then told the border guards that there was stash of bribe money inside the car.
Earlier on Sunday, the Railway minister fired his APS and ordered temporary suspension of two railway officials, who were allegedly involved in the financial scandal. The department's ongoing recruitment process also was suspended as investigations were underway into the scandal.
He has sent all documents belonging to Faruq to the Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) for investigation into his financial position and other properties.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Bank (BB), the country’s central bank, issued a directive asking all commercial banks to freeze bank accounts of Faruq and his wife and send report to the central bank in this regard within seven days.
BBN/SSR/AD-16Apr12-11:50 am (BST)
