Ex-ACC chief, three others asked to explain absence from JS body meet
Monday, 13 April 2009
A parliamentary standing committee has accused former Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) chairman Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury, former secretary Md Delwar Hossain and two commissioners of acting in contempt of the parliament and the constitution by refusing to appear before the committee Sunday, report bdnews24.com and UNB.
Chairman of the standing committee on public undertakings, Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, said: "We have sought clarification from them, under which law they have refused to appear before the committee."
The standing committee has given the four until seven days prior to its next meeting on June 2 to clarify their position, said Alamgir.
"Otherwise, stern actions will be taken against them in accordance with the law," said the ruling-party lawmaker, on a note of warning.
Standing-committee members Dr TIM Fazle Rabbi Chowdhury, Mainuddin Khan Badal and Khaledur Rahman Tito were also present.
Earlier, the government had sent separate letters to the ACC, its members and former members last week to attend Sunday's meeting of the parliamentary watchdog.
The letters said the meeting would discuss the problems of the anti-graft body in discharging its duties. The ACC was asked to appear with all procedural documents of the commission since its inception, along with its latest annual and audit reports.
Former ACC secretary Delwar Hossain, now land secretary, refused the summons in writing. "As the ACC is an independent institution, it is not proper to summon me as its secretary," Delwar told reporters last week.
Former ACC chairman Hasan Mashhud also reportedly refused in writing, but made no public statement.
Chairman of the standing committee on public undertakings, Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, said: "We have sought clarification from them, under which law they have refused to appear before the committee."
The standing committee has given the four until seven days prior to its next meeting on June 2 to clarify their position, said Alamgir.
"Otherwise, stern actions will be taken against them in accordance with the law," said the ruling-party lawmaker, on a note of warning.
Standing-committee members Dr TIM Fazle Rabbi Chowdhury, Mainuddin Khan Badal and Khaledur Rahman Tito were also present.
Earlier, the government had sent separate letters to the ACC, its members and former members last week to attend Sunday's meeting of the parliamentary watchdog.
The letters said the meeting would discuss the problems of the anti-graft body in discharging its duties. The ACC was asked to appear with all procedural documents of the commission since its inception, along with its latest annual and audit reports.
Former ACC secretary Delwar Hossain, now land secretary, refused the summons in writing. "As the ACC is an independent institution, it is not proper to summon me as its secretary," Delwar told reporters last week.
Former ACC chairman Hasan Mashhud also reportedly refused in writing, but made no public statement.