Editorial
Why go for a toothless ACC?
Its independence is crucial to fighting corruption
The statutory anti-graft body, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), as it now stands after the amendments made to the original ACC Act, 2004 by the cabinet can be compared with a bird that faces the imminent prospect of losing its wings. By these amendments made recently, the government has finally pushed through its proposals conceived in early 2009, to curtail the anti-graft body's independence, amid opposition from the international anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International (TI) and the ACC chairman himself. And once these amendment proposals thus approved by cabinet are made into law in the ongoing Jatiya Sangsad (JS) session, it will become a veritable reincarnation of its previous self as the Anti-Corruption Bureau.
But who wants the return of the Anti-Corruption Bureau under the garb of ACC, which was subservient to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in the matter of getting approval from the executive before drawing any proceedings against corrupt government functionaries? It may be recalled that in TI's recent survey, the bureaucracy was found to be one of the most corrupt sectors of the administration. As it stands, in the present scheme of things, the ACC will be required to seek permission from the government, if it intends to file any graft case against a civil servant.
The present move made by the incumbent government to rob ACC of its independence runs counter to the strong public opinion in favour of an independent ACC. It all gives credence to the contention that the ruling Awami League has shifted substantially from its pre-election pledge to ensure good governance through establishing transparency and accountability in the administration apparently yielding to the pressure from the bureaucracy. Furthermore, the provision that the ACC will be accountable to the president will hardly help matters given the fact that under the parliamentary system of government, the president has to work on the advice of the Prime Minister (PM) in every matter except for appointing the Chief Justice and the PM. So, it only adds to the impression that the ACC is being left in control of the executive.
An independent ACC with real power is not only a reflection of a popular demand, but also a strong booster for good governance enhancing the image and credibility of the government.
Hopefully, the ruling Awami League will have a rethink on the matter before placing the ACC amendment bill in its present shape in parliament.
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