'ACC trying to free the country from corruption'

RANGPUR, Mar 29 (BSS): The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is trying to free the country from corruption for materialising the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

ACC Commissioner (Investigation) Md Zahurul Haque said this at the country's first public hearing on the picture of corruption in service-providing government organisations at Town Hall auditorium here on Monday as the chief guest.

Mayor of Rangpur Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa, representatives of different government departments, institutions and organisations, civil society members and common people attended the event.

ACC Director General (ICT and Training Division) AKM Sohail presided over the event moderated by Deputy Commissioner Md Asib Ahsan.

Rangpur Divisional Office Director of ACC Mohammad Abdul Karim, Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mohammad Abdul Alim Mahmud, President of District Corruption Prevention Committee Shushanto Chandra Khan and its General Secretary freedom fighter Akbar Hossain spoke.

Thirty-six complaints brought against different departments were disposed off immediately after hearing in presence of both the service providing and service recipient parties.

Some people have been given time to resolve complaints within the specified time.

Besides, a one-sided decision was given in the public hearing in the allegation brought against teacher of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism of Begum Rokeya University Tabiur Rahman due to his absence.

Most of the complaints came against the Election Commission Office regarding correction of people's names and harassment related to voter identity (ID) cards.

People also raised issues of harassment in Land Offices and Offices of the Assistant Commissioners (Land) and in the investigation processes of ACC and Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI).

"No official or employee of any organisation or person could go unpunished after committing corruption. We are arranging the public hearing not to humiliate anyone," he said.

Rather, the main purpose of the public hearing is to eradicate all problems that arise in getting services by people through motivating service providers to expedite the process of delivering services.

"Don't force ACC to enforce the law," he warned, and directed service providers to give desired services to people as soon as possible.

"We have been able to resolve 91 per cent of the complaints received through the public hearing in Rangpur," he said.

The ACC Commissioner said that if anyone was harassed to get services, responsible persons would be severely punished according to the ACC Act-2004.

"No employee of the Republic has the right to delay in providing services to people," he added.