Decision on amendments to ACC organogram likely today

---

The interim government is going to take decision today (Tuesday) on the proposed amendments to the organogram of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), nearly doubling its existing manpower, reports UNB.
The activities of the anti-graft watchdog are seriously being hindered due to lack of manpower, as the workload of the Commission has increased tremendously in the changed situation.
"The National Implementation Committee on Administrative Reforms (NICAR) is going to sit today to decide the proposed changes in the ACC organogram. The number of personnel is going to be raised to 1,281 from the existing 650. If the organogram is approved, the Commission will be more functional," new ACC secretary Mokhlesur Rahman said Monday in a regular briefing of the Commission that discontinued for more than two months.
"If the organogram is approved tomorrow, it'll be possible to begin work about this from the next day," he hoped.
Referring to the problems facing by the ACC at the moment for lack of manpower, Mokhles said, "The volume of work is huge…The existing organogram comprises 650 staff of which 242 posts are vacant. So, we have to work with 408 personnel, including myself."
He said six divisional offices would be functional subject to the approval of the organogram. He said there would be 22 district offices in the country.
About the complaints received by the Commission, he said the Commission is scrutinising the complaints and the complaints that are not related with the ACC would be forwarded to the respective departments. "If we undertake all the complaints, the main task will be hindered," he commented.
Providing details of the activities of the reconstituted Commission, the ACC secretary said 33 first information reports have been submitted till Monday.
Replying to a query about the problems regarding the absorbed and withdrawn officials of the now-defunct Bureau of Anti-Corruption, the ACC secretary said there are cases in the court and until those are settled nothing could be done about it.
About ACC chairman Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury's meeting with the Chief Justice and the Attorney General on Sunday, he said the ACC chairman discussed about the cases of absorbed and withdrawn officials with the Chief Justice.
The convicts of the cases tried in the courts would go to the higher court and the chairman talked about increasing the number of benches, he said.
Asked about the Chief Justice's response about this, Mokhles said the Chief Justice was positive about it.
Responding to a query about media report suggesting that the ACC chairman requested the Chief Justice for reviving the graft cases against two former Prime Ministers -- Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina -- he said, "I have no knowledge about it."
Asked if the graft cases against the corrupt suspects, including the politicians, would be settled within the deadline (end of 2008) set for election by the government, Mokhles said, "The way work is going on I believe it'll be possible."