The New Nation - Internet Edition

Chairman of Anti-Corruption Commission Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury told a regular briefing meeting the other day that the image of toughness of the ACC is being affected by the recent bails granted to a significant number of accused individuals and stay orders on its cases.

It was the drive against corruption on which the reform process initiated by the present government was largely dependent. Tainting of the image of the commission that spearheaded the drive might make people think that the anti-graft campaign is not going on as before and that reforms can be evaded.

The ACC chairman wants amendments to the ACC law so that in the higher courts it becomes a party in relation to writs, bails and stay orders about the cases filed by the Commission under the clean-up drive launched following the 1/11 changeover.

Asked if the government's attitude towards the anti-graft campaign has changed, he said in the light of so many aspects, including political one, people might view the government activities differently, but "our activities are as before".

He acknowledged that recently the ACC had been preoccupied with writs, bails and stay orders, so it could not pay enough attention to the lower courts where the high-profile corruption suspects were being tried.

As to whether cases by ACC were not properly prepared, he said there had been verdicts in 70-80 cases and the same process is being followed in all the cases. "We have not changed the process."

The realisation of the ACC chief about the need to vigorously continue pursuing the anti-graft cases, though late, should be reflected through activities that might ensure speedy disposal of such cases.

Politics of corruption that had rotten the system requiring the declaration of emergency for a turn around, should have been reformed by now had the anti-graft cases been disposed of through speedy preparatory work. Better late than never.