The common people have a very low level of confidence in the ability of the Anti-corruption Commission (ACC), a recent study, conducted by the Bangladesh chapter of Transparency International (TI), has revealed.
The revelation, however, is not anything extraordinary. The TIB has just presented a hard fact in printed words at a press briefing recently.
But the ACC is not the only national institution running short of people's trust. All other recognised national institutions, constitutional or otherwise, are in no way in any better position. The people's faith in such bodies has witnessed a gradual erosion because of mal-governance on the part of successive governments since independence. The latter have, at times, used the national institutions in achieving their own narrow interests. This has only caused serious damage to the public image of the institutions that are supposed to protect everybody's legitimate rights.
Around 90 per cent of the respondents of the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) study have found that the ACC is incapable of containing graft in the country. There are other findings that only speak of poor state of affairs with the ACC. That the Commission is not politically neutral and independent while dealing also with graft suspects has not escaped the notice of the TIB study. It does allegedly maintain or, is made to maintain, hostility towards suspects who are particularly not politically 'conformist' ones.
What has also been revealed by the study is that the Commission is independent, only theoretically, and strings are often pulled from somewhere else.
Given its performance since its formation in the early part of 2000, the rating done by the respondents of the TIB study is very much in line with the popular perception about the ACC.
The study, reportedly, was carried out over a period of six months, starting from November last year, on activities of the ACC between April 2013 and April 2015.
The ACC, possibly, would have received a bit of better rating, had the study been carried out now. True, the ACC is yet to make a noticeable headway in combating graft. But a sort of change in the body language of the ACC officials is visible lately, following takeover by the current ACC chairman, a former bureaucrat.
The current ACC chairman appears to be tough-talking. However, the ground realities have not yet changed much as far as combating graft is concerned.
Inertia and ACC were synonymous until recently. But a change is noticed in the activities of the anti-graft body in recent days. Since March 13 last, according to a newspaper report, the ACC has arrested 212 persons, including bankers, physicians, engineers, businessmen, contractors. Of them, 59 are former and in-service bankers who have been arrested for their alleged involvement in loan irregularities. A total of 22 beneficiary-businessmen of such irregularities have also been rounded up.
The arrest of the acting managing director of the state-owned Agrani Bank only hours after his appointment did also otherwise demonstrate the strong resolve on the part of the ACC high-ups. However, the large-scale arrest of bankers, reportedly, has given rise to a panicky situation in the banking industry.
As such, some recent developments like summoning officials of different institutions, particularly those working with the financial institutions, in what different circles consider, an 'indiscreet' manner -- having no rhyme or reason of substantive nature, are disconcerting. No responsible officer particularly in the financial sector will find this situation palatable, if he or she is asked to explain every details of his/her routine professional work. There are already reports about all concerned officials showing now their reluctance to take responsibility for their part of professional work for which they are employed or engaged, out of the fear of being grilled later on by the ACC.
There is no denying here that graft has gone deep into the system in the absence of any effective actions for more than four and a half decades. It would take many years on its part to contain graft, even partially, if it is 'allowed' to exercise full powers given under the relevant law. But it is unlikely to get such freedom ever in this country. That is what most people believe.
The popular perception about the ACC would only change if it could act independently and neutrally in the matters of chasing big graft suspects without any discrimination.
But it would always be hard for the Commission to get on such a mission when it is found helpless in putting the name of the mastermind of the scheme to plunder funds worth billions of takas from a state-owned bank on the list of suspects.
Tough-talking is duly appreciated when it is backed by right kind of actions. In the case of the ACC, actions should not be directed only towards small fish. Its actions need to be indiscriminate and against corrupt elements in all places, high and low.
The ACC may be facing a few problems with manpower, logistics and funds. Its own personnel must also have proper professional competence, having skill and expertise as well in their respective fields of investigations and, above all, high-order integrity and probity. These issues can, however, be addressed without any extra-ordinary effort. But it is hard to meet the gap concerning 'resolve' to fight the big figure graft suspects and boost the image of the Commission. Hopefully, the incumbent ACC leadership would try that.
zahidmar10@gmail.com
Narrowing ‘perception gap’
Shamsul Huq Zahid | Published: August 10, 2016 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
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