Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has hailed a verdict of the High Court (HC), declaring illegal and unconstitutional the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) (amendment) Act 2013 that curtailed the power of the ACC to sue government officials.
Local chapter of the Berlin-based Transparency International (TI), in a statement issued Thursday, also called upon the current government to immediately initiate a process for scrapping the provisions 32(2) and 32 (Ka) of the Act in line with the judgment.
The court came up with the order on the day after holding hearing on a writ petition that challenged the legality of the controversial provisions.
According to the provisions which were passed in the parliament during the last session of the 9th parliament, the anti-graft watchdog requires government's permission before filing any case against a judge, magistrate or civil servant.
TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said the HC judgment would help uphold constitutional compulsion and ensure the fact that every citizen is equal in the eye of law.
He said the possibility of making the ACC further strengthened was impeded through passage of the ACC (amendment) Act 2013 and a scope for an influential circle within the state structure was also created for spreading corruption and culture of no-trial.
"We believe that the verdict will bring realisation to the government," he said.
The TIB executive director said the Prime Minister (PM) in her first cabinet meeting announced that the government will show zero tolerance to any wrongdoings and will not tolerate corruption.
He said the PM also firmly directed the parliamentarians to stay away from any sorts of corruption and irregularities. "The people want to see proof of the government's announcement on taking the strict stance against corruption."
Earlier on November 17 last, the TIB urged the President not to sign the amended act, which is contradictory to the constitution for undermining people's rights and independence of the ACC.
Giving full credit to the writ-filing organisation, Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, the TIB made an observation that people's trust upon the HC will be firmer through the verdict.
