The High Court on Tuesday asked the government to form a commission of inquiry within a month to find out the conspirators who allegedly circulated false stories about corruption in the Padma Bridge contract awarding.

A bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo also asked the government to submit the commission’s report to the court in two months.

The secretary to the cabinet division and the secretaries to the ministries of home, law and communications, the inspector general of police and the Anti-Corruption Commission chairman were asked to carry out the directive of the court.

The court also set August 28 for passing further order on a suo moto over the issue issued on February 15, 2017.

 
Deputy attorney general AKM Amin Uddin Manik, ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan and Bangladesh Bridge Authority’s lawyer Abdun Nur Dulal prayed for passing an order to the government to form the commission of inquiry.

Earlier, on June 26 the government prayed for speedy hearing of the 2017 rule to find out the persons who opposed Padma Bridge.

The government’s move came a day after the prime minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Padma Bridge on June 25.

The court on February 15, 2017 asking the respondents to explain in four weeks why they should not be asked to form a commission of enquiry under section 3 of the Commissions of Enquiry Act 1956 to find out the ‘real culprits and bring them to justice’.

The High Court on Monday observed that those who opposed the construction of Padma Bridge were the enemies of the country as well as the nation and they should be identified.

The court said that the Padma Bridge was the country’s national asset and it was constructed for national interest.

The High Court had also asked the cabinet secretary to submit a compliance report with regard to formation of the commission of enquiry or action taken in this regard under the provision of any other law being enforced in 30 days.

The court said that the government should give further time frame to form the commission as it could not carry out the directive of the court due to pandemic of the Covid-19.

The High Court had issued the order in March 2017 suo moto taking cognizance of a report published by the daily Inqilab on February 14 in 2017.