No pressure from govt on ACC boss to resign, says Law Minister
Saturday, 4 April 2009
Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed Friday said there was no pressure from the government on Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury to quit the chairmanship of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), reports UNB.
"As far as I know, there was no pressure on him to resign," he told reporters at his residence this afternoon.
Shafique could not precisely say about the reason of the resignation of Gen Hasan who did not speak about it. He said every person has the right to resign from a government job.
However, the Law Minister thought that Gen Hasan perhaps resigned after considering the matter that some corruption cases were filed under political pressure during the army backed Fakhruddin's caretaker government. Some politicians were arrested before cases were filed against them.
Shafique said: "His (Mashhud's) role also came up for intense debate in the political arena and also in parliament." Since some cases were filed on political consideration, Gen Hasan might have fallen in an embarrassing situation and resigned, he added.
Asked about Tk 130 million reportedly spent for paying ACC panel lawyers to conduct cases, he said the ACC itself should inquire about this huge spending. Besides, the Comptroller and Auditor General's office can also inquire into it.
About appointment of a new chairman of the anti-corruption watchdog, the Law Minister said it would be done through due process. He ruled out any impact on ongoing corruption cases in the wake of Gen Hasan's resignation.
"As far as I know, there was no pressure on him to resign," he told reporters at his residence this afternoon.
Shafique could not precisely say about the reason of the resignation of Gen Hasan who did not speak about it. He said every person has the right to resign from a government job.
However, the Law Minister thought that Gen Hasan perhaps resigned after considering the matter that some corruption cases were filed under political pressure during the army backed Fakhruddin's caretaker government. Some politicians were arrested before cases were filed against them.
Shafique said: "His (Mashhud's) role also came up for intense debate in the political arena and also in parliament." Since some cases were filed on political consideration, Gen Hasan might have fallen in an embarrassing situation and resigned, he added.
Asked about Tk 130 million reportedly spent for paying ACC panel lawyers to conduct cases, he said the ACC itself should inquire about this huge spending. Besides, the Comptroller and Auditor General's office can also inquire into it.
About appointment of a new chairman of the anti-corruption watchdog, the Law Minister said it would be done through due process. He ruled out any impact on ongoing corruption cases in the wake of Gen Hasan's resignation.