The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury yesterday said the future shape of Bangladesh would depend on the quality of leadership not only in politics but also in other spheres, including the economy.

"The future will depend on how the new leadership would tread the path of politics keeping them transparent and clean," he said, adding, "Competent leadership, clean and transparent image is not only important for politics but also for socio-economic progress as both are linked in more than one way."

The ACC Chairman said the country incurs a loss to the tune of Tk 7,000 crore per year due to corruption.

Gen Mashhud said this while speaking at a luncheon meeting of AmCham at Hotel Sheraton on the topic "Role of the Anti-Corruption Commission in Shaping the Future of Bangladesh."

Amcham President Syed Ershad Ahmed welcomed the ACC Chairman, while its Vice President Trevor McDonald proposed the vote of thanks.

Gen Mashhud said the ACC would pursue disposal of high profile corruption cases and sought cooperation of the court.

He assured the business community of ACC efforts to bring down the cost of business and ensure better environment both for foreign and local firms.

"The Commission is working closely with different agencies to bring the cost of doing business down," Gen Mashhud added.

He informed the AmCham that represents American business interest in Bangladesh that the ACC efforts are directed to reduce the cost of business as part of its crusade against corruption in two fronts - prosecution and prevention of corruption.

He said ACC would relentlessly pursue the prosecution to their conclusion while launching very soon a year-long social campaign along with TIB and the people in general, young generation in particular, to create public awareness to prevent corruption.

"Corruption will be a fact of life rather than a way of life," the ACC Chairman said explaining the objectives of the ACC's war against corruption, the vice that bedeviled the nation.

He said, "The Commission's goal would be to make it possible," he said, "ACC sees itself as one of the many agencies to bring about the changes in national life against corruption."

Replying to a question, he said continuation of the ACC's drive against corruption during the regime of the new government after 2008 would depend on the people. "If you want, if people want the drive will continue," he asserted.

Indulging in corruption would be quite difficult by that time. It would not be possible to rollback, the ACC Chief observed.

He dismissed the criticism that the corrupt suspects hardly get opportunity to defend them. "We have doors with transparent glasses, without curtain …We will try to change our action in a manner that should be accountable to us, not only to you (the people). So, anyone accused of corruption can have their views," he added.

Replying to another question, Gen Mashhud said there were some 15,000 corruption cases pending with the Commission, some of which are under trial.

Referring to the oft-repeated views that low pay structure stimulates corruption, he said the root cause was not the low pay. It is the erosion of moral values, he added.

He quoted a study by TIB that found the major cause of corruption is not poor payment. People who get more than Tk 15,000 are mostly involved in corruption. "Pay is important, but it is not the solution," he asserted.