The Transparency International Bangladesh on Saturday said that the Anti-Corruption Commission decision to empower its secretary, an officer of an admin cadre service, instead of its chairman would be tantamount to seriously undermining the commission.
The civil society organisation demanded withdrawal of the decision in a statement issued on the day.
TIB believes that there has been an attempt to transform the ACC into the pro-government old Bureau of Anti-Corruption by increasing the power of the secretary, the statement said.
TIB executive director Iftekharuzzaman said that the relevant law entrusted the ACC chairman with the executive power.
He added that why the commission decided to hand over its power to the bureaucracy needed clarification.
Not only had the transfer and posting of deputy director- and assistant director-level officers been entrusted to the bureaucracy but also all power such as permanent and regularisation of jobs of ACC investigation officers, their current duties, allowances and leave, pension, post-retirement leave and monetary awards, according to Iftekharuzzaman.
It is natural to ask whether the decision to empower the commission secretary was taken consciously by the commission, or it is an evil attempt to transform this important body into a ‘clawless tiger’, as per the statement.
The TIB called for immediate withdrawal of the ACC decision as it is a stark contrast to the prime minister’s declaration of zero tolerance against corruption.
On December 18, 2022, the ACC redesigned its delegation of administrative and financial power empowering the commission secretary, an officer of an admin cadre service, to take decision on the transfer and posting of ACC deputy directors and additional directors who are basically conducting investigation into corruption complaints.
