The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission Lt Gen (Retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury said although ACC is not a stakeholder of the proposed Truth Commission but while forming the Commission interest of the country and people should come first.

"ACC has taken many steps to curb corruption in the society and it will continue its activities. We are trying our best to fight corruption," he said.

He warned that no quarter could divert the activities of the ACC in curbing corruption in the country.

He said this as chief guest at a seminar on 'UN Convention against Corruption: Implications for Bangladesh - What Next?' jointly organised by ACC and Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) in collaboration with UNDP at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the city yesterday.

Prof Muzaffar Ahmed, Chairman of Board of Trustee of TIB, chaired the session, while Monoj Basniyat, Country Director of UNDP, Abu Taleb Mia, Director General of ACC, Abdus Salam Khan, Establishment Secretary, Prof Maniruzzaman Mian, former Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University, among others, spoke. Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of TIB, presented the key-note paper.

ACC Chairman said the organisation has already broken the syndicate of the corrupt persons. It will not interfere with reform processes of the political parties.

Prof Muzaffar said, "At present, development is seen in power sector. But I think this has happened due to the scare created by the drive against corruption by the ACC."

"We should look at the decentralisation of the administration and reducing size of the Ministry," he said.

"Corruption is an infectious disease. Now we need a coordinated legal system for curbing corruption from the country. ACC should ensure gaps of the legal system so that corruption could be uprooted from the society," Prof Muzaffar said.

He underscored the need for technical assistance in this regard.

UNDP Country Director said the UNDP would give support to the activities of the ACC and TIB for curbing corruption.

Prof Moniruzzaman said corruption takes place mostly in politics and bureaucracy. He raised question on who will finance the independent ACC?

The ACC should ensure transparency and accountability in their activities. It should have also accountability in public procurement.

Dr Iftekharuzzaman said Bangladesh should develop and implement coordinated anticorruption policies that reflects the principles of the rule of law.