Bangladesh News

The Truth and Accountability Commission (Tac) yesterday received a large number of phone calls as anonymous callers inquired about rules and regulations and sought confirmation that no punitive action would be taken if they apply for mercy.

Meanwhile, a day-after Tac launched its activities, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury yesterday said they won’t compromise with allowing people involved in large-scale graft make voluntary disclosure before Tac.

“We’ll not compromise with cases that involve large-scale corruption,” he said regarding the ACC plan to send any list of corrupt suspects to Tac. He boss also said ACC will consider cases by their nature before sending those to Tac.

“The idea of Tac can be considered as a pay-off,” he said in reply to a question about the worth of ACC drives spending so much money and time if a corrupt-suspect can easily apply and have mercy through Tac.

“If a law is passed, issues will be dealt in accordance with that law. The Truth and Accountability Commission has been formed following huge debate and discussion. So if any individual tries to raise a question regarding its formation, it would come to no help,” he said in a press briefing at the ACC Headquarters.

Mashhud also said they have not yet made a list of corrupt suspects for sending it to Tac and would take such a step after having discussion with the new commission.

Sources in Tac and ACC say they have received several applications from “corrupt” individuals who want to face the commission. The sources, however, denied disclosing names of the individuals as the Tac Ordinance has provision of keeping secret information regarding absolution seekers.

Tac officials said those who called them didn’t introduce themselves and inquired mainly about how to make an appeal, Tac procedures of work and if there is any possibility of taking punitive action against them in case they file an application.

“We have informed them about our rules and assured them that we are not an institution for taking action,” said a Tac official asking not to be identified.

“We have sent the public notification to the information ministry and it would be published in renowned national dailies as soon as possible,” the official added.

The official said Tac offices have been split in three buildings to deal with the total work. The applications are to be filed with the administrative building named Tatini.

From there the applications will be sent for verification to the law cell in the building called Uttarayon.

If the corrupt suspect is found eligible to get mercy in the verification, Tac will provide him/her with a form to be filled up with necessary information regarding their graft.

Finally the applications would be forwarded for consideration of the commission to the office in the building called Tanmoy, officials say.

The commission has not yet finalised the form, sources say. Tac officials, however, said the form is almost completed and will be finalised any time.