The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Anticorruption Commission (ACC) will take steps to carry out its activities effectively under the next elected government.

"The Commission will hold talks with politicians along with the government officials and the business community so that it can carry on its activities with a minimum level of cooperation," ACC Chairman Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury said this while briefing reporters at the ACC office yesterday.

Replying to a question, he said the government and Election Commission (EC) would decide whether the corruption suspects could contest the forthcoming general polls.

The ACC Chairman, who was due to go to Barisal on a five-day tour, however said the Commission considered a verdict upheld until an appeal is filed against the verdict or the verdict is overturned.

"We can do nothing if a corrupt person contests and wins the elections. We can only continue our awareness campaigns so that the people do not vote for them," he said.

Asked to comment on possible government moves to withdraw the cases filed against former prime ministers Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, Hasan Mashhud said the Commission was not dealing with the matter.

He said corruption could not be stopped just through accusing persons or parties. That's why the Commission planned to hold a series of parleys with the top government functionaries, politicians and businessmen.

Replying to anther question on Truth Commission's activities, the ACC chief said it should be cross-checked whether the people who were going to TAC were providing correct information.

"If they (corrupt suspects) provide any wrong information, their cases should be reconsidered. If we work all together we will definitely get good outcome," he added.