Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzman has said that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) cannot work independently against influential corrupt people.
He came up with the observation on Sunday while addressing a press briefing at the TIB head office in Dhaka.
"This cannot be said the ACC is working against influential suspects independently, particularly those who are involved in banking sector's scams," he quipped.
The TIB chief said the national anti-graft agency must take steps against influential suspects and prove that it is conducting probes into the allegations of influential people independently.
The ACC has legal instruments and power to act independently, he said, but it fails to do so for lack of a strong and visionary leadership.
Replying to a question about ACC’s internal corruption, Iftekhar said officials of the then Bureau of Anti-Corruption were involved in corruption and later, removing the bureau, the ACC was formed as per the Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2004 aiming to make it free from corruption.
"But, the Bureau officials were included in the Commission and that's why the problem still persists there in the Commission...we often get direct or indirect allegations that the ACC officials are involved in corruption as well," he said.
Therefore, he said, it cannot be said right now that the ACC is a clean agency, reports UNB.
But, according to him, the Commission is working to make it a clean one as it is taking actions against its officials getting involved in graft.