US Ambassador to Bangladesh James F Moriarty yesterday suggested that political parties themselves can decide on convicted party men taking part in elections by enforcing provisions in their constitution that ensures a bad-reputed person cannot hold an important post in the party.

"I think some of the parties actually have clauses in constitution saying the people of bad reputation will not be allowed to hold position of importance in the party. And that to me sounds like very sensible regulation," said Moriarty.

"And it is up to the party to enforce its own regulation," Moriarty added while replying to a

FROM PAGE 16

question whether there will be any change in politics if convicted politicians are allowed to participate in the election as demanded by major political parties.

Moriarty made the comments coming out of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACO headquarters after making a courtesy call on the corruption watchdog's Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury.

Stressing the importance of an independent corruption watchdog in any country, he said, "People have to be assured that there is an independent body that is trying to fight corruption and hold politicians and hold officials and hold business people accountable."

Moriarty said the US tried to support the work of the ACC in the past and hopes to continue that support in future.

ACC boss Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury said he talked about ACC activities with the ambassa-

Replying to a question on whether ACC sent a list of convicted politicians to the government, he said, "The government has a list of people convicted so far. The ACC, however, sent a list of the people convicted in ACC-filed cases to cabinet division."