President M Abdul Hamid has asked the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to launch awareness campaign and social resistance against corruption at all levels.
“There is no alternative to build awareness at all levels, including grassroots, to prevent corruption . . . Social resistance will help reduce all sorts of corruption,” the President said when a four-member delegation of the ACC, led by its Chairman Iqbal Mahmood, submitted its Annual Report-2016 to him at Bangabhaban here on Wednesday afternoon.
Abdul Hamid also advised the ACC delegation to take necessary steps for proper and timely settlement of corruption-related cases after conducting appropriate investigation. President’s Press Secretary Joynal Abedin told the news agency.
The anti-graft commission chief apprised the President of the overall activities and outcome of the commission in last one year seeking his (President) supports and directives to gear up the activities of the commission as the national anti-graft watchdog commission.
Iqbal Mahmood said the ACC received total 12,990 graft allegations in 2016, and of them, the Commission initiated probes into 1,007 allegations while 5, 88 allegations were sent to departments or ministries concerned for taking necessary departmental action in this regard.
The ACC chief said the commission filed 359 graft cases in 2016.
“Besides, the ACC filed a total of 13 trap cases and arrested corrupt individuals red-handed while taking bribe through arranging ‘trap’ against them,” he mentioned.
Mahmood said the ACC endorsed charge sheets in 535 cases last year while its total 300 cases were disposed in 2016.
He said the ACC made 65 recommendations in its annual report asking to take steps to check graft in country’s 10 sectors including education and health.
About the prevention activities of the ACC, Mahmood said the Commission has formed 21,000 Satata Sanghas (integrity units) at secondary schools and madrasas across the country to keep the future generation away from corruption.
