Staff Correspondent
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has nothing to do with the corruption charges against the top brasses of different political parties including incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia due to the stay order issued by respective courts on cases against them.
“Many top leaders of different political parties including Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minster Begum Khaleda Zia were accused in several graft cases during the tenure of immediate past caretaker government. Earlier, on the basis of investigation reports about their alleged involvement in graft charges, the ACC had submitted charges sheets against them. As different courts including High Court and Special Court issued stay order on their cases, the ACC has failed to take legal action against them,” said ACC’s DG (Admin) Col Hanif Iqbal in an exclusive interview with The Bangladesh Today on Tuesday.
He said as the fate of corruption cases depend on High Court, it is not possible to run these cases by the ACC ignoring court verdict. “If we tell something against court verdicts, contempt of court allegation would be brought against us,” Hanif Iqbal said.
According to ACC sources at least 15 cases including graft and extortion were lodged against Prime Sheikh Hasina while many cases were also lodged against BNP Chairperson and Leader of the Opposition in parliament Begum Khaleda Zia.
When asked about the function of the commission in the changed situation of an elected government he said the ACC is an independent body. On the basis of its own rules and regulations, it will continue its anti-corruption drive throughout the country independently, he added.
He further said the ACC officials are continuing anti-corruption drive across the country as per its rules and regulations and the drive will be intensified.
“The new elected government is yet to interfere into the ACC’s activities in continuing its drive against corruption and irregularities. No sectors in the country are free of corruption.”
“We do not have adequate manpower and have no well trained and efficient members compared with the other countries to curb corruption,” the ACC DG said, adding “the ACC is now running with about 900 employees. It is not possible for us with this number of employee to combat corruption from the country. Meanwhile, to ensure transparent and impartial drive, we are arranging different types of training session,” he said.
Courtesy: thebangladeshtoday.com
