Flouting a government prohibition, the former director administration of the now defunct Bureau of AntiCorruption (Bac) yesterday issued an office order designating himself as director administration and establishment of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

The government on several times ordered the Bac staff not to work for the ACC or to use any ACC designation until they are appointed at the commission through a screening.

But, Lt Col Abdul Hannan Mridha yesterday signed the office order after forming a 12-member committee to facilitate ACC Chairman Justice Sultan Hossain Khan and an advisory committee during its courtesy visit today in screening Bac officials for appointment at the ACC.

Mridha is one of the former Bac staffers who had been working at the ACC on deputation until February 17, when the commission decided not to attach any such Bac staff with it and asked the government to withdraw five former Bac directors including Mridha from it. After a long debate over attaching former Bac officials with the commission, Cabinet Secretary Saadat Hussain said on December 18 that former Bac officials and employees should be treated as the government's reserve staff since Bac's dissolution on November 21.

But, finding some Bac officials still continuing work at the ACC, the government on January 3 reminded the Bac staff of its order not to work for the commission.

Again on January 29, the Cabinet Division sent a letter to the ACC chair and the two commissioners questioning the legality of some Bac officials holding 'non-existing' positions and issuing letters on behalf of the ACC.

"This is illegal and contrary to service discipline," the letter said, adding, if necessary, the government will take legal steps against them.

The cabinet on February 28 also made an order not to attach or get any Bac staff work for the ACC before the screening ends.

But, introducing himself as director administration and establishment of ACC, Mridha yesterday formed the committee to prepare the meeting venue, accord reception, ready files and carry out other administrative work during today's 'courtesy visit' of the advisory committee for screening of Bac staff at 11:00am.

"If it is a courtesy visit, why are they readying files?" asked a confused former Bac staff.

Most of the committee members are former staff of the banking branch of Bac without any government-acknowledged position at the commission. Among them are Abul Kashem Fakir, Bac deputy director, Ashraful Islam, Bac banking branch inspector, Syed Iqbal Hossain, Bac anti-corruption officer (ACO) and personal secretary to ACC chairman, and Golam Shahriar Chowdhury, ACO and personal secretary to ACC Commissioner Maniruddin Ahmed.