The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Despite serial release on bail of high-profile graft suspects, including former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, there wouldn't be any change in the activities of the Anti-Corruption Commission.

"The ACC activities will go on the way they are going on now. The Commission has not made any decision to make any change in principle," ACC director general (admin) Col Hanif Iqbal told reporters in regular press briefing on Thursday afternoon.

The ACC spokesperson was asked to comment on the release of Khaleda and if the Commission's activities would be affected following the release of the high-profile accused persons like her.

About the release of Khaleda on bail earlier in the day, he said it is a legal aspect and the anti-graft watchdog did what it could in the court.

Hanif said that Khaleda was released after she was granted bail by the court and so "it will not be right to make any comment".

He said that the ACC has so far sent 56 clemency applications to the Truth and Accountability Commission (Tac) and one of them has come back to the Commission after it was disposed of by the Tac.

Six more persons have applied for referring their cases to the clemency body.

The ACC director general said that in the Commission's meeting with district-and divisional-level officials on August 11-12 it was decided that bribe-takers would be caught red-handed through laying traps with the help of persons from whom bribe is demanded.

Since then, he said, four persons, three of them police personnel, have got caught in the mousetraps.

This is a device added to the massive purge against corruption launched after the January 11, 2007 changeover in state power.

Hanif said according to the Commission's meetings information-providers have been awarded financial rewards.