The parliament on Sunday passed the Anti-Corruption Commission (amendment) Bill (2013) making a provision that prior permission of the government will be needed to file corruption cases against civil servants, including judges and magistrates, leaving the anti-graft watchdog further powerless. The much talked-about bill, twice rejected earlier, was passed through voice votes in the evening session of parliament after Maghrib prayer. The provision of prior permission for filing cases against civil servants was made in the bill through some amendments, according to sources.
When contacted, the ACC Chairman, Badiuzzaman, told the Independent on Sunday night that he would make formal comments in this regard today. According to the bill no such case would be accepted by the court without permission of the ACC.
The designated minister for cabinet-related issues in the parliament, Matia Chowdhury, moved the bill. With the passage of the bill, the ACC becomes more transparent, effective and accountable to the people, Matia Chowdhuy said.
The amendment proposed a new provision in the section 32 of the ACC Act 2004 under which the commission must follow the Rule 197 of the Criminal Procedure Code against a judge, magistrate or civil servant.
According the amendment, crimes relating to corruption would be classified in three categories; cognizable, non-compoundable and non-bailable. The opposition had proposed to send the bill to the committee concerned for soliciting public mandate in this regard, but that was not raised in the absence of the opposition. Later, the bill was passed through voice votes. The proposals for amendments were raised by R A M Ubaidul Muktadir Chowdhury and Nurul Islam Sujan from ruling Awami League and Mujibul Haque Chunnu from Jatiya party.
-With The Independent input
