The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Several advisers of the caretaker government yesterday rejected outright the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) report on corruption released on Wednesday.

They also questioned the method of survey carried out by TIB in preparing its report.

However, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) agreed with the findings of the TIB report admitting that widespread corruption in various service sectors of the country is going on.

Finance Adviser Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam yesterday told reporters that the intensity of corruption in Bangladesh, mainly at top levels, has reduced to some extent.

'Corruption is taking place at which level and which scale of the government is important," he said.

"It doesn't seem to me that the Advisers of the caretaker government are involved in corruption or one can bring allegations against them," he said.

He said significant achievements have taken place following the ongoing anti-corruption drive was launched by the present caretaker government.

The Finance Adviser, however, admitted corruption at the lower level of the government due to social and economic reasons.

Commerce and Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman said he wanted that TIB would prepare its report objectively based on facts and figures so that they could take steps against the corrupt government officials and employees accordingly.

'If such reports are objective and based on facts and figures we can comment on it and take necessary steps. Otherwise, it is difficult to take any action against anyone," he said.

LGRD and Cooperatives Adviser Anwarul Iqbal said his ministry would give a formal reaction to the report after receiving it from the TIB. "We have requested the TIB to send the report and after receiving the report we will give a formal reaction to it."

On the other hand, the Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday said it was not surprised at all by the TIB report suggesting rise in corruption, especially petty graft, as the report reflected the scenario from mid-2006 to mid-2007, when the current purge had not got off.

"The Commission is not surprised by the TIB report as the duration reflected in the report was from mid-2006 to mid-2007," ACC director general (admin) Col Hanif Iqbal, also the ACC spokesperson, told reporters at the Commission's regular briefing in response to the report published Wednesday.

Responding to a volley of questions, he, however, did not disagree with the findings by the TIB about rising corruption in some sectors.

About increase in petty corruption, Hanif said, "The Commission is not saying that petty corruption did not increase."

The director general said the Commission--which has chased many top ruling politicians of the past into prison under the anti-corruption drive in the interim period--would work taking into consideration the practical recommendations made in the TIB report.

He said that in the next report corruption scenario after mid-2007 would be reflected and then, possibly, it would be clearer which way the situation would actually turn.

Hanif said the Commission does not believe at all that in an imaginative way like 'Aladin's Wonder Lamp' state of corruption would be changed overnight.

Whatever the result of evaluation of the state of corruption, he said, the anti-graft body's efforts would continue to eradicate corruption, or bring corruption to a tolerable level.

Asked how along it would take, he said no one would be able to give any timeline in this regard.

He said the ACC would try to make things better by working to the best of its ability after detecting the sectors where rampant corruption takes place.

The ACC spokesperson reminded that it would not be possible for the Commission alone to combat corruption rather concerted effort is required to achieve the end.

Responding to remark made by TIB chairman Prof Muzaffar Ahmed that ACC works with the past, he said it is the comment of the TIB chairman and the Commission works in its own way.

About media reports that final report of the Barapukuria graft case against detained former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and 15 others would be given letting the accused off the hook, Hanif said no such thing was even discussed in the Commission meeting.

"Final report may be given in future," he said, adding that no such decision has yet been made.

The reconstituted anti-graft watchdog led by former army chief Lt Gen (Retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury assumed office at the end of February last year.