Delayed formation responsible for ineffectiveness of TAC
Kayes M Sohel | Monday, 25 August 2008
The academics, lawyers and business people have expressed doubt about the effectiveness of the Truth and Accountability Commission (TAC) because ot its delayed constitution.
An ordinace providing for the formation of the TAC was promulgated on June 5 and later it was amended on July 20. The TAC having a five-month tenure is supposed to offer corruption suspects an opportunity to escape penal action in exchange for making disclosure about their ill- gotten wealth and depositing the same with the government exchequer.
Terming the formation of the TAC not timely, political scientist Professor Emazuddin said, "I do not think it will be able to function properly at the fag end of the caretaker government's tenure."
The deadline for voluntary disclosure of ill-gotten expires September 1 next.
Professor Emazuddin, also former vice chancellor of the Dhaka University, said it would have been a fruitful entity, had it been formed immediately after 9\11, when the cartaker government took over administration of the country.
Referring to the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) set up by the Government of National Unity to help deal with wrongdoers under apartheid, he said South Africa attained success because the government had formed it immediately after coming in power.
He said, "Moreover, the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) and the TAC are, seemingly, parallel bodies and most of the applications are being referred by the ACC, indicating poor response from the individuals."
Eminent barrister Dr M Jahir said, "It is unnecessary for the corruption suspects to confess offences before the TAC as the big shots are being granted bails by the higher court."
"No doubt, it was a good attempt for creating avenue for the businessmen in getting clemency in return for the surrender of the illegally earned wealth. But the move has failed to get desired results because of poor response," he added.
Dr Jahir said, "The big shots are now busy in bringing their money back from abroad after getting bail."
Chairman of the Transparency International of Bangladesh (TIB) chapter Professor Muzaffer Ahmad said, "The corruption suspects are not responding to the call of the commission as they expect the TAC will not survive in future."
"The TAC will be dissolved as soon as an elected government takes over power through the next national election scheduled for December next," he said. It is needless for them to surrender to a transitory body like the TAC for taking the advantage of the clemency, he added.
Prof Muzaffer said, "It has already been late. The commission should have been formed earlier for achieving fruitful results."
President of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Annisul Huq said the commission is getting lukewarm response because the corruption suspects have no proper idea about the functions of the TAC. The time constraint is also a factor, he added.
He said, "The commission officials are speaking in such a way that the corruption suspects fear that the secrecy about their identity and disclosures might not be maintained."
In its weekly briefing's of August 20, TAC chairman Justice Habibur Rahman Khan admitted that the response so far was not up to the expectation.
"The commission has not so far received cases as we expected
An ordinace providing for the formation of the TAC was promulgated on June 5 and later it was amended on July 20. The TAC having a five-month tenure is supposed to offer corruption suspects an opportunity to escape penal action in exchange for making disclosure about their ill- gotten wealth and depositing the same with the government exchequer.
Terming the formation of the TAC not timely, political scientist Professor Emazuddin said, "I do not think it will be able to function properly at the fag end of the caretaker government's tenure."
The deadline for voluntary disclosure of ill-gotten expires September 1 next.
Professor Emazuddin, also former vice chancellor of the Dhaka University, said it would have been a fruitful entity, had it been formed immediately after 9\11, when the cartaker government took over administration of the country.
Referring to the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) set up by the Government of National Unity to help deal with wrongdoers under apartheid, he said South Africa attained success because the government had formed it immediately after coming in power.
He said, "Moreover, the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) and the TAC are, seemingly, parallel bodies and most of the applications are being referred by the ACC, indicating poor response from the individuals."
Eminent barrister Dr M Jahir said, "It is unnecessary for the corruption suspects to confess offences before the TAC as the big shots are being granted bails by the higher court."
"No doubt, it was a good attempt for creating avenue for the businessmen in getting clemency in return for the surrender of the illegally earned wealth. But the move has failed to get desired results because of poor response," he added.
Dr Jahir said, "The big shots are now busy in bringing their money back from abroad after getting bail."
Chairman of the Transparency International of Bangladesh (TIB) chapter Professor Muzaffer Ahmad said, "The corruption suspects are not responding to the call of the commission as they expect the TAC will not survive in future."
"The TAC will be dissolved as soon as an elected government takes over power through the next national election scheduled for December next," he said. It is needless for them to surrender to a transitory body like the TAC for taking the advantage of the clemency, he added.
Prof Muzaffer said, "It has already been late. The commission should have been formed earlier for achieving fruitful results."
President of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Annisul Huq said the commission is getting lukewarm response because the corruption suspects have no proper idea about the functions of the TAC. The time constraint is also a factor, he added.
He said, "The commission officials are speaking in such a way that the corruption suspects fear that the secrecy about their identity and disclosures might not be maintained."
In its weekly briefing's of August 20, TAC chairman Justice Habibur Rahman Khan admitted that the response so far was not up to the expectation.
"The commission has not so far received cases as we expected