Sagar Biswas:
The Anti-Corruption Commission [ACC], the lone anti-graft watchdog of the country, has now become highly controversial for performing role as the stooge of the ruling Awami League government.
Although the Commission is mandated as independent, self-governed and neutral entity, there is widespread allegation that it serves the interest of the ruling government giving clean chits or character certificates to the big shots even though they were found accused.
In the latest controversial incident, the ACC on October 9 cleared former Health Minister Dr Ruhal Haque from the charge of amassing illegal wealth accepting his explanation over a ‘mistake’ in his wealth statement.
The wealth statement was submitted to the Election Commission ahead of the January 5 polls.
Not only that, the ACC also gave clean chit to another AL MP Aslamul Haque over the similar allegation.
Concerned circles said that the ACC were apparently issuing character certificates to those who have earned huge wealth by misusing their position in the government.
Ruhul and Aslam–both of them– in their affidavits claimed that they had ‘mistakenly’ showed overstated amount of wealth in the statements given to EC.
Strangely, the ACC accepted the affidavits apparently without any clarification how the ‘mistake’ was dome!
The wealth statement of Ruhul mentioned that his wife possessed Tk 7.53 crore wealth. But in the affidavit later he claimed the figure was ‘mistakenly’ given and the amounted wealth of his wife will be only Tk 45.17 lakh.
Aslamul also in an affidavit claimed his tax adviser had ‘mistakenly’ showed that he had possessed 141 acres of land. But it was actually 1.41 acres. In the wake of huge criticism, the ACC launched the investigation into the wealth of seven former ministers and lawmakers after the fat wealth statements of MPs along with their nominations were submitted to the EC before January 5 elections. The commission at that time also said that the investigation would continue and all the former and incumbent lawmakers would be brought under the scanner.
But only three persons Abdur Rahman Bodi, former state minister for water resources Mahbubur Rahman and former state minister for housing and public works Abdul Mannan Khan so far have faced corruption charge. The rest have already got clean chits.
ACC chairman Mohammad Badiuzzamn, however, refuted the allegations of giving clean chits or issuing character certificates to the corrupt lawmakers. “You are using a pinching word-‘clean chit’. ACC does not give clean chit to anyone who is found guilty. The commission conducts investigation against many persons. But it does not mean that we will file case against everybody,” he told The New Nation last night.
When asked whether the ACC is used as a handy tool of the ruling government and those who have got blessings of government high-ups were never charged in corruption. The ACC chief said that he would not make any comment in this regard.
The list of clean chit holders still remains long. About 1500 persons accused in different corruption cases so far have managed clearance from ACC in the recent days.
Ignoring massive criticism, the ACC cleared all the accused in the Padma Bridge graft case, including former minister Abul Hossain, as its investigation did not find any evidence of ‘corruption conspiracy’ in the project.
“The ACC investigation team submitted its report on Padma Bridge graft case where no one was found guilty of anything wrong during the investigation,” ACC chairman had said. “The investigation team recommended not to make any charge-sheet.”
Other clean chit holders in the Padma bridge graft case were former secretary of Bridge Division Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, superintendent engineer of Bangladesh Bridge Authority Kazi M Ferdous, executing engineer of Roads and Highways Department M Riaz Ahmed Zaber.
Besides, deputy managing director of Engineer and Planning Consultant Limited Mohammad Mustafa, former director of SNC LavalinInc Mohammad Ismail, former vice president of SNC Lavalin Ramesh Shah and former vice-president of SNC Lavalin Kevin Wallace also have got ACC clearance in the same acse.
In a sensational incident, the ACC July 9 gave clean chit to former general manager of Bangladesh Railway Eastern Zone Yusuf Ali Mridha from all charges of corruption including railway appointment business.
The commission also had cleared ex-minister of Railway Suranjit Sengupta after his APS was caught red-handed with Tk 70 lakh bribe money, which ultimate destination was minister’s house, it is alleged. Many find it highly unacceptable that the ACC will issue certificates of not guilty. Only a court can give a finding guilty or not of an offence.
The ACC is fast losing people’s trust as a body to check corruption. Observations are often heard saying that we need another body to investigate corruption within the ACC.
