The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

With Justice Habibur Rahman Khan as chairman, the much-talked about Truth and Accountability Commission (TAC) started functioning yesterday releasing a public notification on the Commission's activities and how the corrupts could take the advantage of mercy.

The corrupt individuals, intending to make voluntary disclosure about their ill-gotten wealth before the Truth Commission, will have to apply by September 1 this year, the notification said.

Justice Habibur Rahman Khan, on his first day in office, urged the corrupt individuals not to lose the opportunity of self-purification by taking the advantage of clemency offered by the Commission.

"It (Truth and Accountability Commission) has been set up with a noble objective. Its functions began today," he said at a press conference at the Commission's Hare Road office.

Justice Khan said the public notification has already been issued and prescribed forms have been prepared to facilitate the corrupt individuals to make voluntary disclosure about their ill-gotten wealth.

Justice Khan, flanked by two TAC members Asif Ali and Maj Gen (retd)

Manjur Rashid Chowdhury, urged the corrupt people not to lose this opportunity of clemency.

"It's a great opportunity for self-realisation. I think they (corrupts) will come to avail of the chance," he said adding that interest has already been created among the people about the concept.

About the perspective of the formation of TAC, the former High Court judge said that owing to rampant corruption country's equilibrium was going to be destroyed.

He said the formation of the Commission is one of the many "good jobs done by the caretaker government and the TAC is intended to ensure good administrative works, welfare of people and human rights."

The TAC chairman said that after the arrests began during the caretaker government, there has been economic instability and uncertainty and people are not having the courage to invest. "The Truth and Accountability Commission has been created under `The Right to Voluntary Disclosure Ordinance 2008 has' to avert economic disaster."

Besides, he said, there are numerous corruption cases pending at the moment and the judges would not be able to deal with any other serious cases if they have to deal with those.

The money received from the corrupt people in exchange for clemency would be spent for the welfare of the country, he said.

Replying to a query, he said the Commission's success will "depend on us and conscious people."

About the eligibility, the TAC chairman said that apart from applying in the prescribed forms, persons whose cases are under inquiry or investigation of the Anti-Corruption Commission could apply to the ACC for referring their cases to TAC.

Besides, he informed that the National Coordination Committee (NCC) on serious crimes and corruption could refer the cases to the TAC. The courts also could send the cases, on applications before the charge-frame hearing, to the Commission.

Justice Khan said those providing false information would be liable to punishment and those who would be given clemency would be disqualified to participate in elections and holding any posts for a certain period.

TAC member Manjur Rashid Chowdhury said, "In due course, we will consider on case to case basis if we should disclose names. If necessary, in the national interest, we will disclose names."

The TAC chairman added, "We are free to decide on that."

Asked if the Commission was formed for facilitating few particular individuals, he replied in the negative and said, "We don't know anything about any persons. We are very free."