The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Though the Truth and Accountability Commission (TAC) passed a barren week after its birth, without dealing with a single case of clemency, its chairman Justice Habibur Rahman Khan hoped the corrupt would start coming to the newly formed commission from this week beginning today.

"I do hope people will start coming to the TAC from this week to take the advantage of clemency," the TAC chairman told UNB.

He also hoped that the Commission would start to receive cases from the National Coordination Committee (NCC) on serious crime and corruption, the Anti-Corruption Commission and the courts in the exoneration process.

Responding to a query, Justice Khan refused to admit that it was a setback for the Commission as not a single corrupt did come to make voluntary confession about his or her ill-gotten wealth in the first week of operation.

He reminded that two persons approached the TAC, but they were refused because their cases are pending with the ACC. The individuals have been asked to apply to the ACC for referring the cases to the TAC.

The TAC chairman said in the first week, all the official works, including printing forms and issuance of public notification, were completed to set the stage for the clemency parade.

About the reasons for clients shying away from approaching the Commission, he said people intending to take the advantage could not yet come to know whether there would be confidentiality and there be no chances of being insulted in public domain.

Replying to a question, he firmly reiterated that his Commission would see success in its assigned mission, which opened a window in the anti-corruption purge launched by the interim regime after last year's changeover in the corridors of power.

The TAC has fixed September 1 the deadline for voluntary disclosure of anybody's wealth amassed by corrupt means. Asked if the deadline would be extended, Justice Khan said, "I am not going to comment on that."

He, however, said, "Let people understand that they will have to come within this time."

The TAC chairman reaffirmed the privacy of those coming to take the advantage of the Commission would be guaranteed.

Asked for naming the names, he said they are in favour of not disclosing names so people feel encouraged to come to the Commission.

About ACC spokesperson Col Hanif Iqbal's remark that the anti-graft watchdog would extend all-out support to the TAC, Justice Khan said it's a positive development and through this the 'little misunderstanding' between two Commissions ended.

On August 4, ACC chairman Lt Gen (rtd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury said it would not be acceptable if the newborn Commission compromised on big corruption. In response, the TAC chairman said on August 6 that under the law the ACC is obligated to refer the cases to TAC if the concerned people apply.

The much-talked-about TAC was formed on July 30 with the appointment of Justice Khan as chairman and former Comptroller and Auditor General Asif Ali and retired major general Manjur Rashid Chowdhury as members.

The Commission started functioning on August 3 with the publication of the mass notification asking the corrupt to take the clemency in return for their ill-gotten money in order to avert getting caught onto the countrywide dragnet.