TIB worried at govt move to amend ACC Act

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FE Report
An independent rights watchdog urged the government Sunday not to bring any change to the Anti-corruption Commission Act, saying that such a move would only undermine the commission's independence.
"If the law is changed as planned by the government, the ACC will be just another Bureau of Anti-Corruption, which will not be a good sign for the nation," said Mr M Hafizuddin Khan, Trustee Board Chairman of the Transparency International of Bangladesh (TIB) at a press conference in the city in the morning.
The TIB feared that the ACC would be just ineffective, if the government went ahead with the proposals to amend the law.
The cabinet approved last month a raft of proposals including one requiring the ACC to take prior permission of the government before filing any charge or case against a government official.
He said the Bureau of Anti-Corruption was ineffective, as it did not have any power on act on its own.
The cabinet also endorsed a proposal providing for a five-year jail term for filing any false complaint or case against any individual. Another proposal, given the cabinet go-ahead, says the commission's secretary will be a government appointee, while the commission will be accountable to the President for their activities.
All the proposals took aback the members of the civil society and the human rights watchdogs at home and abroad, sources said.
The TIB chairman said the amendment aimed at controlling the commission's functioning would go against the election manifesto of the ruling class, as they pledged that they would strengthen the commission and would not intervene in its activities.
"The government should avoid this, as it's a clear violation of our Constitution, which enshrines equal rights for all," he said.
On ACC being accountable to the President, he said it increases the possibility of partisan political influence on the commission," TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said.
He said the commission's activities could be monitored through a supreme judicial council of a parliamentary committee comprising members from all political parties.
"We have to ensure an atmosphere, in which the Anti-Corruption Commission can function impartially," he said.
According to Transparency International's corruption perception index, Bangladesh has for many years been one of the most corrupt countries in the world. Awami League, which won national elections in December 2008, promised during election campaign that they would continue fight against corruption.