The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Over a year gone by since former Prime Ministers Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina submitted their wealth statements to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the anti-graft watchdog is yet to make any decision about their accounts.

According to some ACC officials, it is highly unusual for the Commission to take such a long time to make a decision about wealth statements. Some pointed out that the officers concerned had to stop inquiries for a significant amount of time due to High Court stay orders.

After submission of a wealth statement, an inquiry officer is appointed to conduct the inquiry. If illegal wealth or proof of concealment is found, a case is filed. Otherwise, the matter is closed and the person concerned is informed about it.

Amid a countrywide clean-up drive in the interim period, the anti-graft watchdog issued notices on July 17 last year to Khaleda and Hasina directing them to submit their wealth statements.

The immediate-past Prime Minister, Khaleda, complied with the ACC directive through submitting her statement on August 6. In the statement she showed moveable and immovable property worth Tk 3.54 crore.

Following some legal wrangling, the other former premier, Hasina, submitted her wealth statements on September 3, disclosing much the same amount of wealth as of her political archrival, which is worth about Tk 3.5 crore.

About the delays in settling their accounts, ACC director general (admin) Col Hanif Iqbal said that a long time is required to thoroughly examine the wealth statements.

"It may take such long time. It will require long time in order to examine the wealth statements thoroughly," he said during the Commission's regular briefing on Thursday afternoon.

When his attention was drawn to a report of in a national daily stating that no illegal wealth of Khaleda and Hasina was found in the inquiries, Hanif said, "To the best of my knowledge, the Commission has not yet taken any formal decision."

Until a final decision is made, it would not be possible to say whether the former Prime Ministers have illegal wealth or not. "Nothing could be said formally until ACC's formal decision," he said.

Asked if the inquiry reports have been submitted with the Commission, the ACC spokesperson said he would have to see the files.