The Anti-Corruption Commission is collecting data and information about corruption fertilizer sector and irregularities in appointment of dealers, reports UNB.

"There is a process in place to collect data and information. We''ll fix a way forward after receiving the data and information from our divisional and coordinated district offices," ACC director general (admin) Col Hanif Iqbal told a regular briefing Thursday while replying to a query regarding corruption and irregularities in the fertilizer sector.

His comments came when he was reminded the remarks made by ACC chairman Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury two months ago that the Commission would look into alleged corruption regarding fertilizers and irregularities in appointment of dealers.

Replying to a question, Hanif, also the Commission''s spokesperson, said as part of ACC''s efforts to deal with organizational corruption, the task of inquiry by a four-member special team has already begun into corruption and irregularities in Roads and Highways department under the Communications Ministry. He said a room has already been allocated in the Sarak Bhaban for the use of the special team apart from appointing an important person for liaison.

"Necessary files and documents are being summoned and where necessary employees are questioned and information are gathered." Hanif hoped that they would have an idea within a month about the real progress of the inquiry.

About inquiry into corruption of the Bangladeshi Embassy in Abu Dhabi, the ACC spokesperson said after the submission of the primary inquiry report a deputy director has been appointed as inquiry officer who has already begun his works.

"He (inquiry officer) has collected some information and to do so, he questioned 2-4 individuals. And a questionnaire has been sent to a few embassy officials by post seeking some information and it''s not possible to say anything more until we get back the questionnaire," he said.

He reminded that misuse of government property, losses to the national exchequer through abuse of power, misappropriation of funds, breach of financial disciplines and other financial irregulars would be inquired.

About examining the draft proposal of the Truth Commission, Hanif said the draft proposal is under the consideration of the Commission and with its remarks it would be sent to the appropriate authority at an appropriate time.

Replying to a question, he said he does not know how long it would take for the Commission to examine the draft proposal. In reply to a question about the investigation report on the Niko graft case against detained former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and others, Hanif declined to disclose the names of the persons against whom submission of charge sheet has been recommended saying that without completion of scrutiny by the Commission the names and numbers cannot be disclosed.

When asked that the name of the incumbent Home secretary is there in the investigation report, he said, "I don''t know. At this stage, it''s not possible for me to give the names and numbers."

To a questioner, he said filing a case against 13 persons, including former and incumbent Dhaka Education Board official, does not mean that the Commission has begun inquiring graft in the education sector as part of ACC''s fight against organizational corruption. "It was an investigation into a specific corruption."