Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed its deep concern over a report on empowerment of deputy commissioners (DCs) by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to oversee its grassroots activities.
This will severely curtail the ACC's ability to curb corruption in general and conduct proper investigation into allegations of corruption in local public officials and employees, the anti-graft body said in a press release issued on Friday.
It, however, called for revoking any such decision which will be unwise and self-defeating.
TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman in the statement said the decision by the ACC chairman announced following the DCs' national conference that DCs have been authorized to oversee the ACC's grassroots activities as reported by credible media on 18 July 2019 will create complex overlaps in discharging entrusted duties by the two authorities.
"If such a decision has indeed been taken, it will put devastating impact on the ACC's work through immoral influence and conflict of interest-driven and corruption protecting manipulations," he said.
He said the ACC chairman has reasonably called upon the DCs to report to the ACC on any irresponsibility or corrupt activity by ACC staff, which is part of regular duty and authority of anyone including public officials.
In an ideal world, he said, some degree of collaboration between the administration and an anti-corruption body is also quite desirable.
"If DCs have the authority to oversee the activities of ACC, it will drastically restrict its scope and capacity to investigate allegations of corruption at grassroots level. The ACC will lose its power and operational flexibility," he observed.
"If that is going to happen at grassroots level, would it not also be justified soon to ask whether ACC is ready to render itself under the oversight of the national level administration? What then will be the value and justification of a specialized body called ACC to control corruption?" he questioned.
The TIB suggested that instead of such an emotionally-driven and short-sighted approach, ACC should do better to its purpose by consulting relevant experts and determine the parameters and contours of mutual relationship of the commission with the administration both at national and grassroots level.
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