Bangladesh News

The government yesterday made Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) a self-governed institution in a bid to make it more effective and enable it to work faster being free from unwanted government interventions.

Meanwhile, in the wake of ACC cases being stayed by the High Court (HC), the commission is scrutinising if there is any legal fault in the process of preparing the cases.

Eminent lawyer Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday met ACC Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury and gave legal suggestion in this regard.

In an official notification issued by the government yesterday, it was mentioned that from now on the status of the ACC would be determined as “independent, self-governed and impartial.”

ACC Director General (Administration) Col Hanif Iqbal confirmed it on receiving the government notification.

“From now on the ACC won’t have any administrative bindings in carrying out activities on its own decision other than those having constitutional bindings,” said Iqbal.

He also explained citing example that the commission can appoint necessary manpower and formulate service rules on its own now. But the ACC has to consult Public Service Commission (PSC) to decide about issues like salary for its employees and other benefits including pension.

According to its constitution, the commission has bindings to consult the PSC for salary and other benefits including pension for its employees, Iqbal said.

Earlier, the ACC had to go through at least 12 stages to get government approval for any of its initiatives delaying the activities.

The red tape has so far delayed the ACC to recruit manpower for its 1,200-strong organogram approved by the government earlier this year.

Though the commission had all preparations completed regarding the recruitment it was not able to recruit necessary manpower due to the bureaucratic tangles.

Many other administrative activities of the commission also experienced similar delays.

The ACC on October 23 in a letter to the Cabinet Division proposed bringing amendment to its constitution in order to determine its status as “independent, self-governed and impartial” instead of the present “independent and impartial”.

In the letter the commission recommended that amendment be brought to the section 3(2) of the ACC Act, 2004, which declares it as independent and impartial.

The Act was passed in parliament on February 23, 2004 and the commission came into being on November 21 the same year.

On Dr Kamal’s visit to the ACC, Col Iqbal said, “As a learned lawyer of the country, he has given suggestions as to what should be done about the ongoing cases in future.”

Iqbal also said Kamal Hossain’s visit to the commission shows his support to the ongoing drive against corruption as he has been vigilant on their activities.

The HC on November 25 stayed functioning of the notice issued by ACC to former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia asking her to submit wealth statement. Issuing of notice on former premier and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina was also declared illegal by HC earlier.

A number of writs were also filed with the HC challenging the way ACC notices were issued. It is alleged that the ACC issued notices on many of the suspects without properly maintaining rules.

Over 200 people have so far been served with ACC notices to submit wealth statements. The commission has also filed 108 cases against different people on graft charges.

In reply to a question about submission of wealth statement by 11 high-profile graft suspects recently served with ACC notices, Iqbal said, “The suspects still have time to submit the wealth statements and none of them has so far submitted any prayer yet to extend the deadline.”

The ACC served notices to the 11 including Dhaka Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka on November 18 asking them to submit wealth statement in seven working days.

Iqbal during a regular press briefing also talked about the commission’s efforts for capacity building including arranging training programmes for its employees and even sending some of them abroad to develop skill.

The ACC has so far trained 23 of its directors, deputy directors, and assistant directors.

Iqbal said the ACC has strengthened its process of appointing necessary manpower to make its six divisional and 22 coordinated district offices operational.