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Bill for free anti-graft body placed in JS

Staff Correspondent
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Moudud Ahmed last night introduced in the Jatiya Sangsad a bill seeking to form an independent arid-corruption commission.
On Monday, the cabinet approved the Anti-Corruption Commission Bill, 2003, in a bid to deliver an election pledge of the coalition government.
The commission will impartially investigate the offences of corruption and grant sanction for trial.
The bill proposed that the commission would consist of three commissioners, among whom one would be nominated as its chairman by the president
The president will appoint the three commissioners from among six choices to be made by a selection committee.
The selection committee will be composed of the finance minister, the law minister, two judges each from the Appellate Division and the High Court Division of the Supreme Court as nominated by the chief justice, the comptroller and auditor general and the chairman of the Public Service Commission.
While introducing the bill in the House, the law minister termed it as a rare instance in the fight against corruption. "The commission (proposed) will be able to probe and take actions against all of us."
But the main opposition party, the Awami League (AL), expressed scepticism over the objectives of the bill.
At a news briefing at his Sangsad Bhaban office last night, Deputy Leader of the Opposition Abdul Hamid Advocate raised objections about the six-member selection committee.
With ministers sitting on the selection committee, the commission will not be neutral and able to fulfil its objectives, he said.
Hamid proposed amendment to the bill so that the selection committee could comprise the chief justice and other judges. The AL will welcome the initiative provided such an amendment is incorporated, he added.
The commissioners of the proposed commission will be drawn from among people having at least 20 years' experience in the fields of law, education, administration, judiciary or disciplined forces.
They will be appointed on a four-year term. The commission, to be headquartered in Dhaka, will be able to open its branches at any other places, if need be.
The bill also proposed abolition of the Bureau of Anti-corruption (BAC) from the day the new law comes into effect. The BAC staff could be absorbed in the commission if the commission finds them fit.
The proposed bill observed that BAC was failing to deliver its responsibilities due to some practical and legal problems.
Identifying the menace of corruption as a serious problem in the civil
administration and in society at large, the bill said formation of an independent anti-corruption commission was an election pledge of the government.
The proposed commission will investigate graft charges, lodge and conduct cases, recommend the president on relevant legal issues, carry out research on curbing corruption and build awareness against corruption.
In probing graft cases, the proposed commission will be empowered to ask for copies of any public records from any court or office and issue warrants for quizzing witnesses. If one deliberately disobeys directives of the commission, they could be penalised with up to three years of imprisonment.
After introduction of the Anti Corruption Commission Bill, 2003, it was sent to the parliamentary standing committee concerned for scrutiny within 10 days.