The country's civil society members have urged the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to take tough and visible actions against the powerful corrupt persons.
They have also suggested that the ACC should focus more on tackling large-scale corruptions, especially in the sectors like healthcare, education and banking.
The observations came at a view-exchange meeting with the ACC officials on its proposed Strategy Paper 2019 at the ACC headquarters in the city on Monday.
Former governor of the Bangladesh Bank Dr. Mohammed Farashuddin, former ambassador and chief information commissioner Mohammad Jamir, distinguished fellows of the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya and Professor Mustafizur Rahman, president of the Bishwa Sahitya Kendra (BSK) Prof. Abdullah Abu Sayeed, Shujon's secretary Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, former minister Mizanur Rahman Shelly and former caretaker government adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury, among others, attended the programme.
ACC Chairman Iqbal Mahmood presided over the meeting.
In his speech, the ACC chief said commitment and political wills are necessary for eradicating corruption from the society.
Acknowledging the ACC's various shortcomings, he said the commission will go for taking fresh actions against corruption soon. Dr. Farashuddin urged the ACC to pay more attention to healthcare and education sectors while terming conducting pathological tests (in various diagnostic centres) and exchanging medical samples (by pharma representatives) as dangerous as 'landmine'.
He also said the anti-graft watchdog should take some visible and prudent actions against corruption.
Echoing the same tone, Mohammad Jamir said the commission money of pathological tests virtually go to doctors' pockets (who suggested the tests to patients).
Blaming the existing delay in trial procedure of the ACC-filed graft cases, he suggested quick disposal of the cases.
Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya also sought effective actions against the corrupt influential quarters. Prof. Mustafizur Rahman suggested that the ACC actions (to curb corruption) should be considered as 'development process' instead of legal affairs.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Abdullah Abu Sayeed suggested that the ACC should earn people's confidence by taking some visible actions against corruption.
Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar said the anti-graft watchdog needs to look into mega corruption cases for curbing corruption in the country.
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