The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Anti-Corruption Commission in a letter has suggested the Cabinet Division to take an immediate initiative so that every department should have a permanent mechanism to deal with the wealth statements submitted by government officers and employees.

The government officers and employees have submitted their statements to their respective departments as per the Commission's proposal which will be scrutinised soon, an official of the ACC told newsmen yesterday.

ACC Director General (Admin) Col Hanif Iqbal told Commission's regular briefing yesterday that the Commission thinks if the wealth statements are scrutinised by respective departments, there would be a clear idea about corrupt officers and employees.

"Punishment and disciplinary actions afterwards will help reduce the area of corruption," he added.

Hanif said, "In this context, the Commission Monday wrote a letter to the Cabinet Division Secretary suggesting introduction of a permanent process, that means management, to scrutinise the wealth statements submitted by the government officers and employees."

The Commission asked the Cabinet Division to do this effectively as soon as possible, he added.

Replying to a question, the Director General said the Commission does not get involved with this. Every department would have its own management to scrutinise the statements, he added.

Asked if the ACC would see how the departments are scrutinising the statements, he said the Commission is yet to think about it.

Hanif said the Commission has approved the submission of charge sheet in the case against former Awami League MP Haji Selim and his wife Gulshan Ara Begum for acquiring wealth worth about Tk 27 crore, including concealment of wealth worth about Tk 10 crore.

He said the Commission has approved the filing of a case against Nazim Uddin, chairman of Suvaddya union parishad, Keraniganj, Dhaka for amassing wealth worth about Tk 13 crore beyond known sources of income, including concealment of information of assets worth 4.54 crore.

Hanif said the anti-graft body has approved the issuance of notice to Israfil Ali, a former supervisor (CBA leader) of Titas Gas Company Limited, directing him to submit his wealth statement.