Commerce Ministry forms committee to probe allegations of irregularities against REHAB

The Ministry of Commerce has formed a two-member committee to investigate various allegations of irregularities against the current board of directors of the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB). The committee has been directed to complete the investigation and submit a report within 15 working days.

The investigation committee was constituted through a directive issued by the Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday. Deputy Secretary of the ministry Md Abdul Malek has been made the convener of the committee. Deputy Secretary of the Central Digital Commerce Cell Mohammad Abdus Sadek is a member.

Ten members of the board of directors, including REHAB Vice-President Mohammad Akhtar Biswas, submitted an application to the Director General of the Trade Organisation Wing on July 26. The application brought allegations on 12 issues, including financial irregularities, against the current president of REHAB, Ali Afzal, and Senior Vice-President Abdur Razzak.

Joint Secretary Md Mostafa Jamal Haider held a hearing on the allegations at the Ministry of Commerce on July 30. After the hearing, REHAB’s annual general meeting was postponed for 30 days. At the same time, 15 days were given to the president and the complainants to resolve the matter through discussion. Following this directive from the ministry, the scheduled annual general meeting did not take place at the Radisson Hotel on August 1. In addition, the summer housing fair scheduled for 12 to 15 August was also temporarily postponed.