Political willingness a must to check graft: ACC chief

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Badiuzzaman Thursday said there was no way to check corruption without political willingness.

He came up with the comment while addressing a view-exchange meeting at the conference room of the ACC headquarters in the capital.

The ACC, Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of Bangladesh, Information Commission and Bangladesh Enterprise Institute jointly organised the meeting.

The ACC boss added: "As corruption issues are not discussed in the parliament and political forums, the real causes of corruption are not addressed and reduced."

The developed countries could reduce corruption for their political willingness, he said, adding that political parties should discuss the issue in the parliament to decide how the ACC would run and who should be chairman.

He also urged the ACC officials to quiz alleged persons by maintaining highest level of professionalism.

Comptroller and Auditor General of Bangladesh Masud Ahmed said CAG and ACC want to work together to fight corruption and ensure transparency in the government offices.

"We give information what the ACC seeks from us, but there must be clarity in the laws to provide information. If we want to give more information to the ACC, laws need to be amended," he said.

Chief Information Commissioner Mohammad Faruk said only unveiling information can ensure transparency.

"The Information Commission will work more efficiently to ensure people's right to know," he said.

BEI Vice President M Humayun Kabir said BEI would work with the ACC to help the anti-corruption watchdog function more efficiently.

A three-member committee was also formed at the meeting aiming to help the ACC combat corruption. The members are ACC Director General Md. Shahiduzzaman, Information Secretary Md. Farhad Hossain and Senior Deputy CAG Abul Faiz Md. Abid.

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