Coming polls discourage politicians to seek clemency from TAC: Report
Wednesday, 8 October 2008
FE Report
The forthcoming elections are discouraging politicians from seeking clemency from the Truth and Accountability Commission (TAC) as intending candidates would be disqualified from contesting the polls if they confess their misdeeds to the Commission, according to a report of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The caretaker government launched an anti-corruption drive that resulted in arrest and trial of hundreds of suspected corrupt political leaders and businessmen. Despite a 19-month anti-corruption drive, most of the high-profile corruption cases have been stayed by the High Court and many of the accused, including the two former PMs and the key graft suspect of the past regime Tarique Rahman (former PM Khaleda Zia's son), were released, the ADB said in a report styled 'Bangladesh: Political and Economic Update."
These releases were an outcome of the caretaker government's negotiations with the political parties to persuade them to participate in the elections, it said.
However, the government more recently has been working toward getting the leaders of the two major political parties to work together to build a consensus on critical national issues, despite the fact that past experience in this regard, hardly seems to be encouraging.
"The government says that it is working to create a ‘climate of trust’ with the political parties to facilitate the transition to a new political government," it added.
Established in August last, TAC has so far received a total of 252 applications until September 23 through anti-corruption commission (ACC), national co-ordination committee (NCC), courts and voluntarily.
Profession-wise, apart from eight businessmen, the TAC has received applications from 218 government servants, 19 wives of government servants and seven from other professions.
The ADB said transfer of power through a free and fair election would help to sustain the widespread reforms initiated and partly implemented by the caretaker government.
"It is expected that the project implementation environment will further improve in the wake of credible national elections and a smooth transition to a political government," the ADB said.
Considering the forthcoming political transition, the ADB's Bangladesh Resident Mission (BRM) is closely monitoring the project implementation environment in coordination with Development Partners (DPs) to ensure the safety and effectiveness of ADB's operations.
"New leaders to be installed through elections to the local government bodies are also expected to infuse dynamism in the administration, which may contribute to better project implementation," it added.
However, in the near term, there are risks of disruptions in the run up to the elections that may temporarily affect the congenial atmosphere for implementation of development programs. To address the situation, BRM has planned safeguard measures in advance, including close follow up on key procurement actions and policy decisions.
With the caretaker government's strong support, ADB's portfolio performance has remained strong in 2008. As of 31 August 2008, contract awards were $306 million (82 per cent of the third quarter target) and disbursements were $442 million (163 per cent of target).
The forthcoming elections are discouraging politicians from seeking clemency from the Truth and Accountability Commission (TAC) as intending candidates would be disqualified from contesting the polls if they confess their misdeeds to the Commission, according to a report of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The caretaker government launched an anti-corruption drive that resulted in arrest and trial of hundreds of suspected corrupt political leaders and businessmen. Despite a 19-month anti-corruption drive, most of the high-profile corruption cases have been stayed by the High Court and many of the accused, including the two former PMs and the key graft suspect of the past regime Tarique Rahman (former PM Khaleda Zia's son), were released, the ADB said in a report styled 'Bangladesh: Political and Economic Update."
These releases were an outcome of the caretaker government's negotiations with the political parties to persuade them to participate in the elections, it said.
However, the government more recently has been working toward getting the leaders of the two major political parties to work together to build a consensus on critical national issues, despite the fact that past experience in this regard, hardly seems to be encouraging.
"The government says that it is working to create a ‘climate of trust’ with the political parties to facilitate the transition to a new political government," it added.
Established in August last, TAC has so far received a total of 252 applications until September 23 through anti-corruption commission (ACC), national co-ordination committee (NCC), courts and voluntarily.
Profession-wise, apart from eight businessmen, the TAC has received applications from 218 government servants, 19 wives of government servants and seven from other professions.
The ADB said transfer of power through a free and fair election would help to sustain the widespread reforms initiated and partly implemented by the caretaker government.
"It is expected that the project implementation environment will further improve in the wake of credible national elections and a smooth transition to a political government," the ADB said.
Considering the forthcoming political transition, the ADB's Bangladesh Resident Mission (BRM) is closely monitoring the project implementation environment in coordination with Development Partners (DPs) to ensure the safety and effectiveness of ADB's operations.
"New leaders to be installed through elections to the local government bodies are also expected to infuse dynamism in the administration, which may contribute to better project implementation," it added.
However, in the near term, there are risks of disruptions in the run up to the elections that may temporarily affect the congenial atmosphere for implementation of development programs. To address the situation, BRM has planned safeguard measures in advance, including close follow up on key procurement actions and policy decisions.
With the caretaker government's strong support, ADB's portfolio performance has remained strong in 2008. As of 31 August 2008, contract awards were $306 million (82 per cent of the third quarter target) and disbursements were $442 million (163 per cent of target).