Claiming credit for the formation of an 'independent' Anti Corruption Commission (ACC), an election pledge of the ruling coalition, the government is busy tightening its grip on the commission.
Even sixweeks into its formation, the long-awaited commission failed to start its task. Instead it is locked in a tussle with the government to prevent the latter's attempt to control it.
It is now uncertain when the ACC will start its work as a stalemate prevails in it now.
The methods the government is now prescribing to settle the tussle will furtherstrengthen its grip on the commission, fear many ACC staff.
To hide the situation inside the
ACC and the discord between the government and the commission, government policymakers and some commission officials are trying to give the impression that the ACC, a reformed body of the bureau of anti-corruption, would take time to work in full strength.
The government formed the anticrime body on November 21 under the ACC Act that empowered the commission to appoint its staff and formulate rules and regulations.
But the ACC has so far drafted only five rules.
ACC officials said about three weeks ago they had sent the draft rules to the Cabinet Division for approval of the president but they donotknowthe latest development.
Talking to The Daily Star on Wednesday at his office, acting ACC
Secretary MA Matin said, "Our work has not stopped. We're doing our best to finalise the rules. We'll be able to start our operation in full strength after getting the rules approved."
No organogram for the commis.-sionhasbeenmadeasyet.
Sources said ACC Commissioner Prof Maniruzzaman Mian has been entrusted with the job.
Some high officials of the ACC are however learnt to be preparing an organogram on their own and are likely to place that before the commissionsoon.
Meanwhile, more than 1,100 officials and employees of the now defunct bureau of anti-corruption (Bac) are yet to know whether they wouldbeall owed to workin theACC
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or not, many officials said.
। The ACC initially absorbed all staff of the Bac and was empow-
I ered to select who would work in
1 The ACC formed two committees to scrutinise the perfor-' mance and records of the former . Bac staff. But they had to stop 1 work as there were no rules and ^regulation for scrutiny.
" It appears the commission thought it would be able to work in its self-formulated methods,' one source pointed out.
The ACC Act said the commission would work In its selfformulated methods designed according to rules approved by the president.
The government meanwhile is trying to settle a dispute over its appointing Reza-e-Rabbi as secretary to the ACC on December 22. Top officials of the commission had earlier sent a letter to the government seeking appointment of ACC Director General (DG) MA Matin to the post. The ACC did not allow Reza to join it.
The ACC Act provides that the
commission would appoint its secretary with the approval of the government.
A Supreme Court advocate meanwhile filed a writ petition challenging the appointment of Reza.
The government is likely to withdraw the appointment of Reza on condition that the commission too would withdraw its selection of Matin, sources said.
Cabinet Secretary Sadat Hossain will soon sit with the ACC chairman to settle the dispute.
The government on December 11 cancelled Matin's contractual job as DG but the ACC asked him to continue in the commission.
Some ACC high officials seeking anonymity said a section of bureaucrats are pushing the government to impose its decisions on the commission to ensure its grip on it.
Against this backdrop, the commission has not yet filed a single corruption case due to the absence of any rules. Over 3,000 newcomplaints have piled up.
The commission is also to act yet to expedite 2,632 cases awaiting disposal.
Moreover, many of the ACC staff are yet to submit their wealth statement although the one-month deadline for it expired on December24.
Explaining this, ACC sources said the officials and employees posted outside the capital received the order late.
ACC Chairman Justice Sultan Hossain Khan after taking office on November 23 said the commission would fight corruption in the spirit of 'jihad' and make significant changes in amonth.
Asked about the significant changes, Justice Sultan on Tuesday said, "Corruption automatically reduced after formation of the commission, especially in customs department and at different ports where corruption takes place most."
He went on, ''Paying bribe traders earlier used to import goods worth Tk 7 lakh showing LC (letter of credit) of Tk 1 lakh. Revenue earnings have improved as they now fear to do it."
When contacted, Law Minister Moudud Ahmed declined to say anyth ing on the commission.