No illegal step taken in releasing Hasina temporarily: ACC chief
Monday, 16 June 2008
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) chairman Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury, who joined his office Sunday after a long vacation, said no illegal step has been taken in temporarily releasing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, earlier detained in connection with graft cases, reports UNB.
He also said if the Commission thinks something illegal had been done, then it would surely give its opinions to the appropriate authority.
'I think no illegal step has been taken or will be taken. If so, we'll surely give our opinion to them. I know for sure that the activities are conducted under certain rules and laws,' the ACC chairman told reporters when he was asked about the release of Hasina, now in the United States for treatment.
Without naming anyone, he said the current anti-corruption drive would not be affected by the release of Hasina, also president of Awami League.
Replying to another question regarding release of top politicians, he objected to the word 'released' and said there is such a precedence in the case of Awami League general secretary Abdul Jalil. 'Certainly that has been done in accordance with law. I don't think there is any scope for disagreement.'
He said if everyone works within their area, there would not be any misunderstanding.
Responding to a question, the chief of the anti-corruption watchdog, which chased many a high-profile corruption suspects into prisons under a purge in the interim period, said nothing has happened to suggest that the whole perspective has been changed.
He, however, said, 'A big change may come if there is election and a new government takes office. We are thinking and will think what to do in that case.'
About the Truth Commission, Mashhud said due to its formation, the pressure on the ACC would be reduced and success of the Truth Commission would depend on the number of people coming to it.
'Under no circumstances would the ACC allow any other agency to impede its activities,' said the crusader against an all-pervasive malaise like corruption.
The ACC chairman, also former army chief, vowed not to backtrack on the activities undertaken by the anti-graft watchdog and hoped that the objectives of the ACC would be successful.
He also said if the Commission thinks something illegal had been done, then it would surely give its opinions to the appropriate authority.
'I think no illegal step has been taken or will be taken. If so, we'll surely give our opinion to them. I know for sure that the activities are conducted under certain rules and laws,' the ACC chairman told reporters when he was asked about the release of Hasina, now in the United States for treatment.
Without naming anyone, he said the current anti-corruption drive would not be affected by the release of Hasina, also president of Awami League.
Replying to another question regarding release of top politicians, he objected to the word 'released' and said there is such a precedence in the case of Awami League general secretary Abdul Jalil. 'Certainly that has been done in accordance with law. I don't think there is any scope for disagreement.'
He said if everyone works within their area, there would not be any misunderstanding.
Responding to a question, the chief of the anti-corruption watchdog, which chased many a high-profile corruption suspects into prisons under a purge in the interim period, said nothing has happened to suggest that the whole perspective has been changed.
He, however, said, 'A big change may come if there is election and a new government takes office. We are thinking and will think what to do in that case.'
About the Truth Commission, Mashhud said due to its formation, the pressure on the ACC would be reduced and success of the Truth Commission would depend on the number of people coming to it.
'Under no circumstances would the ACC allow any other agency to impede its activities,' said the crusader against an all-pervasive malaise like corruption.
The ACC chairman, also former army chief, vowed not to backtrack on the activities undertaken by the anti-graft watchdog and hoped that the objectives of the ACC would be successful.