ACC challenges Khaleda's claims

The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has dared BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to prove that it is corrupt.

Commissioner M Shahabuddin Chuppu says the Constitutional institution is working independently and neutrally.

Khaleda, accused in several corruption cases, dubbed it 'corrupt' and blamed it for implicating opposition leaders in cases, while letting ruling party activists off the hook.

Speaking at a discussion in Dhaka on Tuesday, Chuppu said, "The chief of a political party, who's also a former prime minister, has been recently deriding the ACC by dubbing it 'corrupt commission' and 'indemnity commission'.

"I'd like to challenge (her to prove it) and she won't be able to prove (her claims)."

He recalled the ACC exempting the BNP chief from the Bhairab bridge corruption case in the absence of proof.

"Why don't you talk about that?" he asked. "Why don't you admit that the ACC is on the right track?"

Chuppu said the ACC did not give anyone indemnity. "The word doesn't exist in ACC vocabulary.

"There's been only one incident of indemnity in Bangladesh when Khandker Moshtaq (Ahmed) exempted killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman."

He claimed the ACC was kept "ineffective" when Khaleda was the prime minister.

"The world is aware of the widespread corruption that took place between 2001 and 2006 [when the BNP-led coalition was in power].

"We were crowned champions of corruption four times during that period," he added.

'TIB has ill intentions'

The ACC commissioner also came down hard on Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB) saying it was "working with vested interests".

A recent Transparency International report claims corruption in Bangladesh has risen.

Chuppu had rubbished the report at a press call soon after the report was released.

He contested the TI report.

"I can say it without hesitation and a doubt that the report is motivated. They (the TI) are working to implement the agenda of a certain quarter," Chuppu said without naming anyone.

Law Commission Chairman Justice ABM Khairul Haque, chief guest at Tuesday's function, questioned acceptability of the TI report.

"Their reports lack facts," he said.

Haque recalled TI's 2010 report which claimed Bangladesh's judiciary was the most corrupt when he was the chief justice.

"I sought the report and relevant documents from them. After going through them (the documents) I found they contained neither facts nor findings.

"I had asked them on what basis they had claimed the judiciary was the most corrupt. They said they had prepared their report based on perception."