Former State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali. File Photo

DHAKA, Dec 23, 2025 (BSS) - Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) will interrogate 
former State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali and former 
senior secretary Md Muhibul Haque at the jail gate in connection with a case 
over the alleged embezzlement of nearly Taka 200 crore in the purchase of 
radar equipment for Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

Following a petition filed by the investigation officer, the vacation judge 
of the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge and Metropolitan Sessions 
Judge's Court, Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun, passed the order today.

According to the ACC petition, state funds were misappropriated in the mega 
project titled "Installation of RADAR with CNS-ATM" under the Ministry of 
Civil Aviation and Tourism through violation of public procurement rules, 
escalation of project costs, abuse of financial and administrative authority, 
irregularities in the approval process, and illegal receipt and distribution 
of benefits.

The petition further said that, in collusion, a local agent-Aeroness 
International Limited-was unlawfully involved to ensure that the project work 
was awarded to a preferred contractor.

ACC filed a case on January 27 this year with its Dhaka-1 Integrated District 
Office under sections 120B, 161, 163, 164, 409, 420 and 109 of the Penal Code 
and section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.
Accused former senior secretary Md Muhibul Haque is currently detained at 
Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj in multiple cases and has been shown 
arrested in the present case as well.

Former state minister Md Mahbub Ali, though currently in jail in several 
cases lodged with different police stations, is not an accused in the present 
case. 

However, the ACC told the court that his interrogation is necessary in the 
interest of investigation, particularly regarding documentary records related 
to the project.

For the sake of a proper investigation and to uncover the actual facts, the 
ACC sought court permission to interrogate both individuals at the jail gate 
of Dhaka Central Jail, which the court granted.