Thrust on modifying ACC act to access info of tax bodies, FIs
Friday, 11 December 2009
FE Report
The act governing the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) should be moderately readjusted to authorise immediate access to necessary information from taxation authorities and financial institutions (FIs), ACC chief Ghulam Rahman said Thursday.
"The present Anti Corruption Commission Act 2004, although quite effective, does not vest on the ACC enough authority over the financial institutions and the income tax bodies," Rahman said.
His views came while addressing a seminar on "Making the ACC Effective: Why and How?" in the city. Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) organised the seminar on the occasion of the International Anti-Corruption Day.
"For example, if we want to have access to any financial information from any of these authorities regarding any alleged irregularities, they are not obliged to provide us so by the dint of the respective rules and regulations governing them," the ACC Chairman said.
The financial institutions act, banking company act and the income tax act considerably predate the Anti Corruption Commission Act ratified in 2004 and often seem to be in conflict with the need of the Commission, Ghulam pointed.
"Therefore, I am not asking for any tampering of the current ACC act, but there could be some additional provisions in it to assure proper adjustment with the laws governing the banks, financial institutions and income tax bodies to assure immediate access to information," he added.
The ACC chief also called for putting an end to the use of private fund or business earnings in financing electoral campaigns and other political activities, identifying it as a major cause for large-scale corruption and irregularities. He also asked for disclosure of personal incomes, assets and properties of all of the MPs.
"Such measures would send a cautionary signal to the government officials and employees, thus reducing the scope of the corruption further," he added.
Reaffirming the commission's tough stance about any irregularities, Ghulam said lawmakers and politicians from both the government and the opposition would be under scrutiny.
"The ACC is already investigating and following legal procedures about the alleged irregularities committed by two government lawmakers."
Earlier, speakers in the seminar called for effective inclusion of the local government in the anti corruption procedure and also for improving the quality of manpower in ACC.
TIB trustee member Professor Muzaffer Ahmad said in his speech, "Defence purchase too should be brought under the purview of ACC drive, since it is not free from corruption."
"ACC should be made a self-governed institution and its secretary should be appointed by the commission itself and not by the government," TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said.
He also recommended the expansion of the ACC's jurisdiction to include crimes under Money Laundering Act 2002 and crimes in the banking and financial sector, foreign companies and those involved in foreign exchange.
The act governing the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) should be moderately readjusted to authorise immediate access to necessary information from taxation authorities and financial institutions (FIs), ACC chief Ghulam Rahman said Thursday.
"The present Anti Corruption Commission Act 2004, although quite effective, does not vest on the ACC enough authority over the financial institutions and the income tax bodies," Rahman said.
His views came while addressing a seminar on "Making the ACC Effective: Why and How?" in the city. Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) organised the seminar on the occasion of the International Anti-Corruption Day.
"For example, if we want to have access to any financial information from any of these authorities regarding any alleged irregularities, they are not obliged to provide us so by the dint of the respective rules and regulations governing them," the ACC Chairman said.
The financial institutions act, banking company act and the income tax act considerably predate the Anti Corruption Commission Act ratified in 2004 and often seem to be in conflict with the need of the Commission, Ghulam pointed.
"Therefore, I am not asking for any tampering of the current ACC act, but there could be some additional provisions in it to assure proper adjustment with the laws governing the banks, financial institutions and income tax bodies to assure immediate access to information," he added.
The ACC chief also called for putting an end to the use of private fund or business earnings in financing electoral campaigns and other political activities, identifying it as a major cause for large-scale corruption and irregularities. He also asked for disclosure of personal incomes, assets and properties of all of the MPs.
"Such measures would send a cautionary signal to the government officials and employees, thus reducing the scope of the corruption further," he added.
Reaffirming the commission's tough stance about any irregularities, Ghulam said lawmakers and politicians from both the government and the opposition would be under scrutiny.
"The ACC is already investigating and following legal procedures about the alleged irregularities committed by two government lawmakers."
Earlier, speakers in the seminar called for effective inclusion of the local government in the anti corruption procedure and also for improving the quality of manpower in ACC.
TIB trustee member Professor Muzaffer Ahmad said in his speech, "Defence purchase too should be brought under the purview of ACC drive, since it is not free from corruption."
"ACC should be made a self-governed institution and its secretary should be appointed by the commission itself and not by the government," TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said.
He also recommended the expansion of the ACC's jurisdiction to include crimes under Money Laundering Act 2002 and crimes in the banking and financial sector, foreign companies and those involved in foreign exchange.