District, upazila-level corruption prevention bodies begins work within two months
Tuesday, 25 December 2007
All the corruption prevention committees, formed at the district and Upazila levels across the country as part of a move of the Anti-corruption Commission to carry out a campaign against the vice, are expected to begin works within the next two months, reports UNB.
The committees, having 10 members for the district-level one and six for the Upazila-level one, will start works in the districts and upazilas of Rajshahi division first.
"The Commission has planned to begin holding meetings with the committees on January 8 at the Commission's headquarters. Initially, the anti-graft watchdog will hold meetings with the district and Upazila committees of Rajshahi division," ACC Director General (DG) (Admin) Col Hanif Iqbal said during the Commission's regular briefing Monday afternoon.
Asked when all the committees across the country are expected to begin functioning, he said after the meetings with the committees of Rajshahi division they would start working.
Hanif told a questioner that in phases meetings would be held with all the committees from other divisions and steps would be taken to make all the committees functional within the next two months.
Responding to a question about the main task of the committees, he said creating mass awareness would be the main task of the committees.
On January 8, Hanif said, meetings would be held with the committees from Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Panchagarh, Kurigram and Rangpur districts followed by meetings with committees from Naogaon, Nawabganj, Bogra, Joypurhat, Rajshahi and Natore districts on January 9.
The meetings with the committees from Gaibandha, Sirajganj and Pabna will be held on January 10, he added.
The ACC DG said during the meetings, district and Upazila committees would be given clear directives about the constitutions and rules of business of the committees.
Giving details of the tasks of the committees, he said the main task of the Committees would be to help implement the programmes announced by the ACC in line with its strategic paper relating to prevention of corruption.
These committees will carry out corruption prevention activities in a non-violent manner without violating the existing law. "But these committees will, in no way, have the scope to interfere or influence the inquiries and investigations of the Commission."
Besides, there will be no scope for the committees to influence or interfere in administrative or internal activities of the government, semi-government, autonomous and private offices.
Hanif said it came to the notice of the Commission that efforts are being made to harass different individuals and organisations by issuing letters/notices by using the ACC's name.
He said no one has been given the power to issue notices without prior approval of the Commission. "Only officials appointed or approved by the Commission can issue notices and ask for evidence/proof," he said.
Notice distributors would always carry identity cards issued by the Commission, he said adding that concerned individuals and organisations were advised to contact ACC officials, not below assistant directors, if there was any suspicion about the notice.
Replying to a query, Hanif said action would be taken as per law, including imprisonment and fine, if anyone was found involved in such dishonest activities.
Responding to another questioner, he said the Commission had already identified three of its low-level employees who had been accused of being engaged in such malpractice.
"Investigations are on about them. Legal measures are under process. The Commission's decision is this: Stern punitive measures will be taken against them."
In reply to a question about filing cases against individuals granted bail by higher courts, Hanif said nothing was being done intentionally.
About the on-going renovation of the Commission, he said the renovation is done with grants provided by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
He said the Commission has approved the filing of a case against former Awami League MP Akhteruzzaman Chowdhury Babu for concealing information and acquiring wealth beyond his known sources of income. ACC Deputy Director Abul Kalam Azad will file the case in Chittagong.
The committees, having 10 members for the district-level one and six for the Upazila-level one, will start works in the districts and upazilas of Rajshahi division first.
"The Commission has planned to begin holding meetings with the committees on January 8 at the Commission's headquarters. Initially, the anti-graft watchdog will hold meetings with the district and Upazila committees of Rajshahi division," ACC Director General (DG) (Admin) Col Hanif Iqbal said during the Commission's regular briefing Monday afternoon.
Asked when all the committees across the country are expected to begin functioning, he said after the meetings with the committees of Rajshahi division they would start working.
Hanif told a questioner that in phases meetings would be held with all the committees from other divisions and steps would be taken to make all the committees functional within the next two months.
Responding to a question about the main task of the committees, he said creating mass awareness would be the main task of the committees.
On January 8, Hanif said, meetings would be held with the committees from Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Panchagarh, Kurigram and Rangpur districts followed by meetings with committees from Naogaon, Nawabganj, Bogra, Joypurhat, Rajshahi and Natore districts on January 9.
The meetings with the committees from Gaibandha, Sirajganj and Pabna will be held on January 10, he added.
The ACC DG said during the meetings, district and Upazila committees would be given clear directives about the constitutions and rules of business of the committees.
Giving details of the tasks of the committees, he said the main task of the Committees would be to help implement the programmes announced by the ACC in line with its strategic paper relating to prevention of corruption.
These committees will carry out corruption prevention activities in a non-violent manner without violating the existing law. "But these committees will, in no way, have the scope to interfere or influence the inquiries and investigations of the Commission."
Besides, there will be no scope for the committees to influence or interfere in administrative or internal activities of the government, semi-government, autonomous and private offices.
Hanif said it came to the notice of the Commission that efforts are being made to harass different individuals and organisations by issuing letters/notices by using the ACC's name.
He said no one has been given the power to issue notices without prior approval of the Commission. "Only officials appointed or approved by the Commission can issue notices and ask for evidence/proof," he said.
Notice distributors would always carry identity cards issued by the Commission, he said adding that concerned individuals and organisations were advised to contact ACC officials, not below assistant directors, if there was any suspicion about the notice.
Replying to a query, Hanif said action would be taken as per law, including imprisonment and fine, if anyone was found involved in such dishonest activities.
Responding to another questioner, he said the Commission had already identified three of its low-level employees who had been accused of being engaged in such malpractice.
"Investigations are on about them. Legal measures are under process. The Commission's decision is this: Stern punitive measures will be taken against them."
In reply to a question about filing cases against individuals granted bail by higher courts, Hanif said nothing was being done intentionally.
About the on-going renovation of the Commission, he said the renovation is done with grants provided by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
He said the Commission has approved the filing of a case against former Awami League MP Akhteruzzaman Chowdhury Babu for concealing information and acquiring wealth beyond his known sources of income. ACC Deputy Director Abul Kalam Azad will file the case in Chittagong.