ACC probe not a public stunt: Badiuzzaman

The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC), Bangladesh’s national anti-graft agency, has urged people to have faith in it.

ACC Chairman M Badiuzzaman made this appeal in view of an ongoing investigation into the wealth of several former Awami League ministers and MPs.

“I’ve noticed that you (the people) have a distrust of the ACC,” he said at the Commission headquarters on Sunday.

“You might think we are performing a mere public stunt. But that’s not right,” Badiuzzman said. “We are doing our work sincerely.”

Media reports before the Jan 5 polls, cited wealth declaration by candidates to show that a number of former ministers and lawmakers had amassed huge wealth over the past five years.

The ACC took note of the reports and decided to investigate.

Those under the ACC scanner include former health minister AFM Ruhal Haq, public works state minister Abdul Mannan Khan, water resources state minister Mahbubur Rahman, MPs Enamul Haq, Abdur Rahman Badi and Abdul Zabbar.

The ACC chief said that, unlike in the past, several former ministers and standing MPs were being investigated this time. The probe officers had been appointed in January.

“Please wait and see what we do,” he said, appealing for patience.

ACC Commissioner Nasiruddin Ahmed had told bdnews24.com on Tuesday that the graft watchdog had been tipped off about the possible illegal wealth of seven former ministers and MPs, and six current lawmakers.

Badiuzzaman appealed to everyone to help the investigation instead of casting doubts on their work.”