Bangladesh News

None of the high-profile graft-suspects, especially politicians arrested, accused or jailed, has applied for voluntary disclosure before the Truth and Accountability Commission (Tac) as it would bar them from contesting polls for next five years.

Sources involved in the anti-corruption drives told The Daily Star the politicians are bargaining with the government for a “concession” to amend the provision in Tac so that they can contest the polls even after making voluntary disclosure.

In accordance with section 26 (1) of Voluntary Disclosure of Information Ordinance, 2008, politicians making voluntary disclosure about ill-gotten wealth won’t be able to take part in any elections — parliamentary, zila parishad, upazila parishad, union parishad, and municipality polls — for five years.

Section 26 (1) (Ga), however, says the 26 (1) would be flexible for the politicians making disclosure directly to Tac being self-inspired and who are not accused in any graft case.

Sources in the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and National Coordination Committee (NCC) to Combat Corruption and Serious Crimes say some politicians are secretly trying to have the provision of the Voluntary Disclosure of Information Ordinance, 2008 amended.

The fact that high-profile graft-accused are obtaining bails or securing stay orders in the cases also encourages some politicians and businessmen, who see a future in politics, to wait and look for a stay until the upcoming national election is held.

The ACC, NCC and Tac, however, expect the politicians who see their political future bleak will come for disclosure at the fag end.

On the other hand, the recent victory of detained Badruddin Ahmed Kamran in Sylhet mayoral election has also inspired many other politicians to continue with politics.

“As the election nears, politicians are bargaining for an assurance from the government that they will be able to take part in polls even after facing Tac,” said a top-level ACC official asking not to be named.

“If one can have cases against him stayed by keeping his source of income protected, why he would come before Tac only for being considered ineligible in the next elections,” he added.

“In our country, politics is not passion of politicians, it’s their profession. And many of them have mentioned it in their wealth statements submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission,” he added.

ACC sources say some politicians and businessmen facing investigation are observing the situation and might go to Tac at the last moment as charge sheet against them would take time.

“Some politicians and businessmen are waiting until cases against them are matured and go to court. And there is no reason to face Tac when legal proceedings against one can be kept stayed by a writ until elections,” an ACC top-level official explained.

The Truth Commission has appeared as the best opportunity for most of the corrupt government employees, who don’t have a future in politics and may get cleared of corruption charges by confessing to a lesser amount of ill-gotten wealth, NCC sources observe.

Meanwhile, Tac yesterday held hearing of three more Titas Gas officials who confessed to having ill-gotten wealth worth about only Tk 5 lakh.

Earlier, six Titas officials confessed to having wealth worth about only Tk 10 lakh, though the taskforce found around 135 Titas gas officials earned huge amount of wealth by illegal means.

“It seems difficult expecting repentance from the corrupt in mass number. That is why the way of punishment has been practised in the society for correction. Generally, people won’t be corrected unless they suffer for their wrongdoings,” a Tac official said speaking anonymously.

Most of about 200 graft-suspects applied so far to make voluntary disclosures before Tac are government employees except for some small businessmen, a teacher and a number of civilians.

Three more government servicemen applied to ACC yesterday for making voluntary disclosure before Tac.