To rid society of pervasive rot
Experts call for independent anti-corruption commission

The Independent, 31 December 2001

The Bangladesh Chapter of the Transparency International yesterday mooted a proposal for an Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (IACC) to eradicate corruption which was retarding the human and economic development in the
country.

The draft outline presented at a roundtable meeting proposed for special legal power for the IACC to fight against corruption effectively and without fear, favour or interference. It also suggested provision to take legal action against
people abroad for corruption in Bangladesh.

The draft outline was prepared on the basis of facts finding report on the Bureau of Anti-Corruption, an agency working under the Prime Minister's Office.

Both the facts finding report and the draft proposal for the IACC were presented before the gathering of leading citizens including the politicians, civil servants, academicians, journalists and other professional experts at CIRDAP
auditorium.

Chaired by Khan Sarwar Murshed, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Transparency International, Bangladesh, the roundtable meeting after a brain-storming discussion favoured immediate setting up of an independent, impartial and effective anti-corruption commission to make the society free from
corruption.

Presenting the fact finding report on the Bureau of Anti-Corruption, Professor Muzaffar Ahmed mentioned corruption as the main obstacle to socio-economic development of the country.

The report revealed that the Bureau of Anti-Corruption was loosing credibility because of its failure to file cases against the ruling party people by showing enthusiasm in filing cases against the former minister's and MPs.

The Bureau needed to be freed from executive control as part of programme of reform, amendment, reconstitution and transformation into an independent commission, the report suggested.

According to the survey until March 2001, the duration of cases filed with the BAC and for commencement of investigation ran between one to six years.

Due to delay in granting permission, evidence was often destroyed resulting in no action against the administrative and political corruption, the report mentioned.

Constitutional expert Dr Kamal Hossain, Chief Whip Khandaker Delwar Hossain, opposition Whip Abdus Sahid, Awami League lawmaker Faruk Khan, Jatiya Party MP Golam Mohammad Quader, Sudhangshu Sekhar Halder, former cabinet secretary Mujibul Huq and former Advisers to the Caretaker government SM Shahjahan Holiday Editor AZM Enayetullah Khan and M Hafizuddin took part in the discussion.

UNB adds: The speakers said society demands a change from corruption and the proposed independent commission has to be formed constitutionally aiming to establish the rule of law and paving the way for good governance.

Corruption and the rule of law cannot go together and the vice is one of the core reasons of poverty, they observed.
The discussants said reforms in the political and administrative system became essential and the civil society must keep pressure on the government to curb corruption.

Kamal Hossain said the question of forming a special commission arose as existing law of the country was now incapable to take effective measures to curb corruption.

Terming the proposed commission an "instrument to implement the rule of law" that is an urgent necessity for the country, Dr Kamal suggested identifying the problems ahead of the commission to implement it.

Chief Whip Khondoker Delwar Hossain said the judicial process and system in the country is very complex which must be changed as the people want a strict and quick process.

The ruling party leader pointed to massive corruption somewhere that cannot be called in question because of contempt charge.

About foreign aid, the Chief Whip of parliament said he did not think that 25 per cent of the foreign aid went to the people and the reason he said was corruption.

"TIB should conduct a study to find out a non-corrupt personality. Common people are not corrupt as they don't have any scope. We, who are in charge of various important posts, are the main corrupt people," he said in a note of soul
searching.

The Chief Whip hoped the opposition would join parliament and take necessary effective steps to make laws for curbing corruption.

Dr Atiur Rahman said TIB's proposal and guidelines of an independent commission is "highly ambitious" and not implementable for this country unless the existing political culture is changed. He pointed out that immediate use of information technology could help reduce corruption in the institutions as people will not be able to cheat the computer.

Adviser of the former caretaker government Hafijuddin underlined a strong political will to form the anti-corruption commission.

BAC Director Abu Bakkar Siddique said they had submitted a proposal for forming
a committee to make a set of guidelines of an independent anti-corruption
commission.

JP lawmaker GM Quader said the main reason for corruption is lack of accountability and liability to the people through the Parliament and "I don't think that only a powerful Commission will bring an end to the widespread corruption".

Mujibul Huq suggested bringing a change in the Constitution to increase the powers of the President. "We should have a fresh look into our Constitution keeping the parliamentary system as it is so that the President will be able to take some decisions without taking advice of the Prime Minister," he said.

Holiday Editor AZM Enayetullah Khan said the existing judicial system is now incapable to cope with the scale of corruption. "Corruption is widespread but that does not mean that we will be frustrated."

Former Awami League MP Shudhangshu Shekhar Halder suggested putting aside the President of the country from the Commission. In the proposed IACC, TIB had suggested involving the President and also the Chief Justice with the
Commission.

Former Bangla Academy DG Dr Syed Anwar Hossain diagnosed corruption as not a disease but a crisis. "Alleviation of corruption is impossible and it is impossible in every country of the world. What best we can do is to curb or reduce its intensity."

Opposition AL MP Lt. Col. (Rtd) Faruk Khan said the place of a political leader got lowered to the people and those who have huge money are now at the highest position.

by Staff Reporter