Advisory: Compile previous items
Dhaka, Jan 30 (BDNEWS) – While Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman said the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) failed to fulfil the hope of the government and the people, its Chairman Justice Sultan Hossain Khan Monday said he would resign if he failed to make the Commission functional.
Their comments came following a meeting of the minister with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which is financing a project to strengthen the commission, and ACC Chairman and its Commissioners.
The Chairman informed the newsmen that the ACC is going to submit chargesheets on 45 cases next week.
Commissioner Moniruizzaman Miah and officials, on the other hand, said the submission of chargesheets would not be effective unless the President approves the rules.
"Rules and organogram of the Commission are under process," Justice Sultan said. "The rules are now in the Cabinet Division and will be sent to the Establishment Ministry soon."
ADB's resident mission chief Hua Du was present in the meeting.
On the disputes among the commissioners that are allegedly hampering operation of the Commission, Justice Sultan said the difference lies between two commissioners Moniruizzaman Miah and Moniruddin Ahmed on submission of chargesheets.
"Moniruizzaman Miah said it is not possible without approval of the rules while Moniruddin Ahmed thought it is possible," the ACC chairman told reporters.
He, however, said that there is no internal conflict in the Commission.
"We sat today with the Finance Minister and the ADB resident mission chief to activate the ACC shortly," he said.
Asked, Moniruizzaman Miah on the dispute between the two Commissioners declined to make any comment.
"The chairman may comment on it," he noted.
The ACC started functioning on November 21, 2004 with a towering hope, the Finance Minister said adding, but still it remains dysfunctional.
"We established the organisation with a great hope, but it failed to become effective," Saifur told reporters after the meeting.
The minister said the ACC is in trouble following disputes among the commissioners and rules and organogram.
The issue of absorbing the staff of now defunct the Bureau of Anti-Corruption also affected its normal operation, he added.
"I have asked the commissioners to resolve disputes among themselves for the sake of the Commission," he said, adding ineffectiveness of the Commission will certainly put a negative label on the country's image.
Saifur said it is not true that the government is reluctant to assist the ACC to be operational.
The finance minister said the file on the rules and organogram of the ACC is now with the Cabinet Division and will be sent to the Establishment Ministry soon.
He hoped that the rules and organogram of the Commission would be approved shortly.
ADB resident mission chief Hua Du said they want to see that the Commission running without pressure from any quarter. She said ADB would continue its financing to a project to strengthen the ACC.
The ADB started the Tk 4.69 crore project in 2004. Later, it was extended twice and raised the project cost to Tk 12 crore, officials said.
BDNEWS/1933 hrs
