Bitter consequences for accepting bribes

To meet the public's expectations, there is no alternative to making investigation and prosecution processes as flawless as possible, said Iqbal Mahmood, chairman of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday.

Pointing out the Transparency International's (TI) 'Global Corruption Barometer – Asia 2020' report which says 86 percent respondents told them that anti corruption agency of Bangladesh is doing a good job in tackling corruption, he said the people's faith in them has increased their responsibility.

In a statement, Iqbal yesterday said the ACC needs to work on transparency and accountability.

"I can firmly say that in the last five years, we've been trying to meet public expectations. We did not give priority to a person's identity," he said.

The ACC Chairman said that they have given importance to the mode of crime and its magnitude. "We tried to take crimes into cognizance at the quickest possible time," he said.

According to the TI report, 24 percent respondents told them that they have to pay bribe to get government service. The TI conducted the survey on 1,000 people.

"We never deny that people have to give bribe to get government service. But to stop the practice, we've taken various measures," he said, adding that the ACC led drives to prevent bribery.

He said in the last five years they have nabbed many corrupt officials red-handed while taking bribes. "Some of them are being tried at the court," he said.

"Providing service is a constitutional responsibility of government servants. But some dishonest officers and staffers are taking bribe and getting involved in criminal offence," said Iqbal.

Those who take bribes will face bitter consequence, he added.