The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury on Sunday admited that total uprooting of corruption from country may not be possible overnight, but the objective should to minimise its scale.

"Free Bangladesh of corruption may not be a doable proposition, at least, for the time being. So, we should decide on a more pragmatic objective which could be to minimise corruption," he said while speaking as guest of honour at the monthly luncheon meeting of the Foreign Investors' Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) at Radisson Hotel.

Corruption may be a fact of life but it should not be allowed to be a way of life, he observed.

He said that there is a two-fold ways and means to curb corruption-prevention and prosecution. "Prevention is beter than cure…It is necessary to kill few chickens to scare a monkey."

About the means to fight the country's rampant corruption, Mashhud said strong political will, a set of transparent but tough laws, agencies to enforce these laws effectively and a well-motivated society are required to deal with corruption.

On the Commission's efforts in achieving the goals, he said, "We are trying to achieve our goals in phases."

About Bangladesh being billed as one of the most corrupt nations on earth, he said, " 'Reputation' of being a corrupt nation is rather sticky. We have to find the effective solution to remove the stain. It may take time. At the end, with your cooperation, it will work."

The ACC Chairman urged the FICCI members to join the campaign against corruption, saying that they are expected to follow the best practices and should encourage others in doing business cleanly.

About doing business in Bangladesh, he said that doing clean businesses might be difficult now, "But through working together we can change things for beter."

"I have been told that over the point of corruption things are under control, people are behaving," Mashhud said. "No, this is not the actual picture. Big businesses are still suffering specially when it comes to sophisticated methods of taking advantage of doing good businesses."

In this regard, he narrated a grim picture of the Custom House in Chitagong where bribe is a common feature. But, he hoped that following the posting of one of ACC directors there, things would improve.

The ACC Chairman said that corrupts do corruption because of high reward low risk proposition, but it should be the other way round. "We will change it"

About the fear factors mentioned by the FICCI President in his speech earlier, he said he is not the man to address the problem. "Some other agencies, specifically the government, should come up with some brighter ideas to remove the fear factors.

Mashhud said he does not have any problem in constituting a Reconciliation Commission like that in South Africa.

"It has been proposed to me…Could there be an arrangement if so and so agrees to clear out the path of old sins, he will be considered as a clean man and he should not be bothered anymore and they referred to the famous Reconciliation Council or Commitee in South Africa."

"Is it that bad?" he questioned. "If it is that bad…Then do have a Reconciliation Council. I have no problem with that"

Again on removing the fear factors, the ACC Chairman said, "Removing fear factors, I believe, should primarily depend on those agencies, which make things difficult for people to conduct their daily businesses cleanly.

He noted that it is not the whole business community or the whole section of people, who are scared. "We know who are scared."

Mashhud said he does not have any problem if the government decides to find some means by which this fear factor can be overcome and let people come out clean. "My point was why should some people be let off. And those people, who lectured you and me about paying taxes."

He assured the business community that his Commission would not scare anyone for nothing.

Replying to a question about the ACC's relation with the National Coordination Commitee (NCC) on serious crime and corruption, Mashhud said the NCC is only for the much part of the emergency period and the Commission is taking the advantage of the NCC resources.

"The ACC will take decisions on its own, Inshallah," he said adding that the Commission would resist if there is a bit of arm twisting on the part of NCC.

On a question about the legal and institutional safeguard of the ACC during a political government, the ACC Chairman said, "It was one of the reasons for which I did not want to take the job. I know it very well… things will change very fast the moment the emergency will be off."

He said, "By the time the emergency is over and a political government is about to take over we should be able to have a social conviction that things would not be allowed to roll back."

He hoped to have an independent Commission of some nature in future when people could work independently.

Among others, British High Commissioner Anwar Chowdhury, Australian High Commissioner Douglas Fosket, Canadian High Commissioner Barbara Richardson and US Charge De Affairs Geeta Pasi were present at the meeting.