ACC a toothless tiger: TIB calls for revising Govt decision to amend Anti-Corruption Act

Recent initiatives to amend the rules of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Act would weaken the Anti-Corruption Commission, said the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).
It is also contrary to the election pledges of the Awami League government, said TIB leaders at a press conference at the National Press Club on Sunday.
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), the Berlin-based global watchdog’s Bangladesh chapter, expressed grave concern over the proposed changes to the ACC Act and urged the Government to reconsider the proposed decision and allow the commission to work independently.
Trustee Board Chairman of TIB M. Hafizuddin Khan read out the written statement while TIB Executive Director Iftekhar Zaman and Trustee Board Member Prof Muzaffer Ahmad replied to the queries of journalists.
They were very much critical of the provision of ACC’s accountability to the President of the country and provision for the appointment of the Secretaries to ACC by the Government.
It may be mentioned, the Cabinet on April 26, in principle, approved the amendments to some provisions of the ACC Act -2004 that the ACC should be accountable to the President and appointment of the officials by the Government.
“The proposed amendments are not consistent with the election manifesto of the present government. At present the ACC is facing different obstructions in its way to smooth functioning keeping its hands and legs are tied,” said TIB Trustee Board Chairman M. Hafizuddin Khan adding that the Government has no initiatives to resolve such problems.
About the ACC’s accountability to the President, Hafizuddin Khan feared that such proposal would create bad impact on the commission’s activities as there would be political interferences everywhere.
Hafizuddin Khan, also a former Adviser to the Caretaker Government, urged the authorities to cancel the provision No-36 of ACC Act-2004 to get rid of the government’s interference. Former TIB Trustee Board Chiarman Prof Muzzaffer Ahmad said that the overall activities of the ACC remain stagnant in recent months due to some internal problems.
“The ACC is closely related to the rules of law and human rights. So the Goverenment should strengthen the commision to establish the corruption-free society,” he mentioned.
Referring to the Election Commision’s Secretary Jokoria, what he said, made the EC dysfunctional, Prof Mozaffer said, It would weaken the anti-corruption commission.
The senior most TIB Trustee member also suggested introducing incentive, reward and puishment structure for the the ACC officials and employees.
Asked whether the ACC would publish a corruption report on the incumbent Awami League government, the TIB Executive Director Iftekhar Zaman said, “Such situation has not been created yet. There is a widespread allegation of corruption at local levels at service delivery sector, land administration and hospitals. But it does not turn into grand shape in the national level till date.
Replying to a query, he said, “There are some indicators of political governments’ interferences to the ACC’s activities but time has not come to pass any strong comment in this connection.
Iftekhar proposed to form two advisory councils -all-party parliamentary committee and advisory committee with the civil society representatives – as watchdogs to oversee the commision’s activities.

Courtesy of The New Nation