ACC chief says anti-graft body made subservient
The countrymen would wage a movement against the amended Anti-Corruption Commission law, as it made the graft watchdog subservient, acting ACC chairman Mohammad Shahabuddin said yesterday. He said the move to give government officials impunity and protection would not see the light of the day. According to the new law, the ACC requires government permission before filing cases against any public servant, including the magistrates and judges.
“An unholy alliance has been instrumental in making the bill into a law,” said Shahabuddin while addressing the founding anniversary of the anti-graft body in the capital’s Shilpakala Academy.
His comments came a day after President Abdul Hamid had signed the much-talked-about bill into law.
“The citizens of the country cannot be divided into two groups,” he said, posing a question to government officials, “Who are the beneficiaries of corruption?”
He pointed out that ACC officials would not feel comfortable when they are to work under the controversial provision.
He said the preamble of the ACC act stated that the law had been framed to set up an independent commission. Section 3(2) of the Act referred to an independent and impartial commission while article 27 of the constitution stated that all citizens are equal before law and entitled to equal protection of law.
But ignoring all these the controversial provision had been incorporated, the acting ACC boss said, adding that the law is not only discriminatory but also restricts ACC officials, as it kept jail terms for them.
As per the amendment, if any investigation by a commission official is proved to be false, the official concern will face three to five years’ imprisonment, although section 31 of the Act states that ACC officials will not have to face any civil or criminal court if they carried out their duties on good faith.
On November 11, a day after the House had passed the bill, ACC Chairman Badiuzzaman, who is now aboard, made similar comments on the media.
Terming the new provision unconstitutional, he had said, “The amendment curtails ACC’s freedom to some extent, as it will need prior permission from the government for filing cases against public servants.”
-With The Daily Star input
