The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) chairman Prof. Mozaffar Ahmed Saturday said confusion has been created about quick dispensation of justice in corruption cases under existing laws due to legal complexities involved in the anti-graft process.

He, however, said that during the anti-corruption drive in last one year it has been established that none is above law. "The anti-corruption drive has established that none is above law. But, as legal intricacy has surfaced in the anti-corruption process, confusion has been created whether one would be punished quickly under the concerned law," the TIB chairman told reporters at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre. Earlier, he inaugurated an annual conference of 'Sachetan Nagorik Committee' (committee of concerned citizens) where some 500 of its members participated. TIB trustee board secretary general and Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam spoke at the conference on 'Citizen's Role in Anti-corruption Movement'.

Asked about the legal complexities, the TIB chairman said government institutions like the Taskforce, NBR, police and Anti-Corruption Commission are engaged in the anti-graft drive. But on one hand there is lack of coordination among the various agencies and on the other over enthusiasm among some people made things complex. Mahfuz Anam said: "Our failure is that we could not free politics from corruption. An elected government will be the only acceptable government if we want to see Bangladesh as an acceptable democratic state."

"Those who will come (to power) will have to be entirely free from corruption. If politicians themselves are not personally free from corruption,

Bangladesh will not be a democratic country," he said, adding that change in institutions and mentality is required for this, else the leadership would not be free from corruption. Anam said there is a trend in the country that persons who commit corruption get elected. This tradition must be demolished. "We've to create an overall environment so everyone knows that the corrupt won' t get vote, won't get elected."

TIB executive director Iftekharuzzaman and convenor of Savar Sacheton Nagorik Committee (Sanak) Zainal Abedin Khan also spoke at the function.

Formed by the TIB, Sanak is a network of committees of concerned citizens aimed at creating a social movement against corruption. The two-day conference has been organized jointly by Sanak and Youth Engagement and Support (YES), another TIB initiative to implement countrywide youth activities against corruption.