The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The much-talked-about the Truth and Accountability Commission will start its functioning within next 10 days.

"The process of formation of the Commission is now at the final stage. We do hope that it will be able to start its activities within next seven to 10 days," said Adviser for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs AF Hassan Ariff while talking to reporters after a meeting at the Ministry of Shipping at the Secretariat.

The Truth Commission has been formed with a view to giving a scope of the clemency for the high-profile corrupt elements.

The Cabinet on May 25 approved the Right to Voluntary Disclosure Ordinance 2008 in this regard and the President promulgated the ordinance on June 5. Later on July 6, the cabinet, however, proposed a number of amendments to the ordinance.

The ordinance provided the provision that anybody who has already been convicted in a graft case, with a sentence of two years or less, would get the scope of mercy if he or she confesses about his/her illegal earnings and returns those within a certain timeframe.

The ordinance, however, said the persons who would make voluntary disclosure about their illegal wealth would be disqualified for a period not exceeding five years from holding any offices, including Parliament, zila parishad, upazila parishad, union parishad, municipality, city corporation, or any trade organisation and professional body, or any post in any bank, financial organisation or public limited company or any other organisations formed under the constitution or any law, the ordinance said.

The Commission will run for five months with three members. The president will appoint one of the three members as chairman of the commission, the ordinance said.

Those eligible to be members of the commission are retired chief justices, retired justices of the Appellate Division, retired army officials ranked major general or above, retired government officials ranked as secretary or equal designation.

Asked whether former Chief Adviser Justice Habibur Rahman is going to be the chairman of the Commission the adviser parried the question saying that this also would be announced within 10 days.

Earlier, the government has appointed 26 officials and staffers on deputation for the commission and established its office on Minto Road.