TAC chairman for complete change in administration to root out graft
Thursday, 13 November 2008
Truth and Accountability Commission (Tac) Chairman Justice Habibur Rahman Khan Wednesday said he firmly believes that the activities of the country's administration are not running properly and that it has been plagued by rampant corruption, reports UNB.
The whole system would have to be changed to get rid of pervasive corruption, he said at the Commission's regular briefing.
Replying to a question, Justice Khan said: "It's my firm belief that administrative activities are not functioning properly. It has been plagued by rampant corruption. The whole system has to be changed… a system should be in place where there will be no corruption."
He added: "The whole method will have to be changed. In order to root out corruption, everything needs to be changed."
The Tac chairman said that though politicians and businessmen did not come to the Commission, the picture of institutional corruption had been exposed.
"We will be able to provide details in our reports for the government to take measures. If measures can be taken, the administrative system will get easier."
About the Tac activities so far, he said it is a matter of satisfaction that the Commission has dealt with good number of cases in short time.
Justice Khan said that due to the extension of deadline until November 16, the Commission has received 59 more applications. "There will be no more extension."
The Commission could be taken as a model in terms of disposing of the cases swiftly, he added.
Tac member Asif Ali said that lack of planning in the government offices was to be blamed for delay in taking decisions that cause sufferings to the people.
Detailing the activities of the Commission, he said some 389 individuals have applied for clemency in return for their ill-gotten wealth. Of them, 20 have applied directly, 192 applications came through the Anti-corruption Commission, 167 through the National coordination Committee on serious crime and corruption, and 10 through courts.
Among the 389 applicants, there are two politicians, 28 businessmen, 303 government servants, wives of 39 of them and 17 belonging to other professions.
The hearing of 259 individuals has so far been completed and they have pledged to pay Tk 277.90 million (27.79 crore). Some 154 individuals already deposited Tk 144.60 million (14.46 crore) to the government treasury. Mercy certificates have been distributed among 65 individuals while another 40 are ready to be distributed.
Asif Ali said that if the number of applications does not exceed 500 by the deadline, they would be able to finish hearing by the end of the Commission's tenure on January 2, 2009.
Another Tac member, Maj Gen (retd) Manjur Rashid said that while dealing with clemency seekers they could know about rampant corruption in the service-providing organisations.
Talking about widespread graft in Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL), he said corruption as well as effort to cover up corruption has been detected. "From top to bottom (in BTCL) no one is free from corruption."
The whole system would have to be changed to get rid of pervasive corruption, he said at the Commission's regular briefing.
Replying to a question, Justice Khan said: "It's my firm belief that administrative activities are not functioning properly. It has been plagued by rampant corruption. The whole system has to be changed… a system should be in place where there will be no corruption."
He added: "The whole method will have to be changed. In order to root out corruption, everything needs to be changed."
The Tac chairman said that though politicians and businessmen did not come to the Commission, the picture of institutional corruption had been exposed.
"We will be able to provide details in our reports for the government to take measures. If measures can be taken, the administrative system will get easier."
About the Tac activities so far, he said it is a matter of satisfaction that the Commission has dealt with good number of cases in short time.
Justice Khan said that due to the extension of deadline until November 16, the Commission has received 59 more applications. "There will be no more extension."
The Commission could be taken as a model in terms of disposing of the cases swiftly, he added.
Tac member Asif Ali said that lack of planning in the government offices was to be blamed for delay in taking decisions that cause sufferings to the people.
Detailing the activities of the Commission, he said some 389 individuals have applied for clemency in return for their ill-gotten wealth. Of them, 20 have applied directly, 192 applications came through the Anti-corruption Commission, 167 through the National coordination Committee on serious crime and corruption, and 10 through courts.
Among the 389 applicants, there are two politicians, 28 businessmen, 303 government servants, wives of 39 of them and 17 belonging to other professions.
The hearing of 259 individuals has so far been completed and they have pledged to pay Tk 277.90 million (27.79 crore). Some 154 individuals already deposited Tk 144.60 million (14.46 crore) to the government treasury. Mercy certificates have been distributed among 65 individuals while another 40 are ready to be distributed.
Asif Ali said that if the number of applications does not exceed 500 by the deadline, they would be able to finish hearing by the end of the Commission's tenure on January 2, 2009.
Another Tac member, Maj Gen (retd) Manjur Rashid said that while dealing with clemency seekers they could know about rampant corruption in the service-providing organisations.
Talking about widespread graft in Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL), he said corruption as well as effort to cover up corruption has been detected. "From top to bottom (in BTCL) no one is free from corruption."