Without mentioning who they are, acting chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission M Shahabuddin Chuppu yesterday claimed that the Bangladesh chapter of Berlin-based Transparency International was working to implement some others’ agenda.
Criticising the TIB for questioning the accountability of the ACC in its Corruption Perception Index 2014, Shahabuddin said 2013-14 was the year of the commission’s achievements.
At the same event, organised at the Shilpakala Academy by the ACC to mark International Anti-Corruption Day 2014, former chief Justice ABM Khairul Haque suggested the ACC needed to prove that it was not a toothless organisation.
The TI in its report, published on December 3, mentioned that Bangladesh’s slip in the index, compared to the gradual achievement seen since 2006, was the result of inadequate steps to curb corruption despite pledges made by the ruling government. It also said measures were taken to curb the independence of the ACC whereas there was a lack of steps to achieve effectiveness of the anti-graft body.
The report said lack of steps to bringing to book the people responsible for much-talked-about corruption cases including Padma bridge, railway recruitment, share market scam, Hall-Mark, Destiny, Sonali and other state-owned banks, and Rana Plaza contributed to the degradation of the country’s corruption index.
Shahabuddin said: “...if there is any intentional criticism against the ACC we cannot accept it...We have rights to protest against it.
“The 2013-2014 year is the year of our achievements. We rejected the TIB report prepared on the basis of only [public] ‘perception.’ When we asked them to present facts and findings, we found that all of their allegations are our achievements.”
He said the commission had revealed its investigation report and explanation on the Padma bridge corruption conspiracy case where no corruption had been found. “Then why did the TIB question our clarity?”
Shahabuddin claimed that the ACC had shown success in Padma bridge, railway recruitment, Hall-Mark, Rana Plaza and Destiny cases. “So why did the TIB consider our successes as sarcastic? People as well as the ACC have the right to know this.”
Justice Khairul, who is the incumbent chairman of law Commission, also criticised the TIB’s perception report.
“Few years back [when serving as the chief justice], the TIB in a report mentioned that corruption prevailed in the entire judiciary. I was happy to know the findings as I thought it would help me apprehend some corrupt lawyers or judges. But when I saw their report, I found no such facts and findings. Rather they made the report based on their ‘perception.’”
Later the TIB said five out of 1,200 judges had been corrupt who took Tk500 as bribe through lawyers. “But the TIB did not mention any name or any incident that could prove the claim,” Justice Khairul said.
“It is unexpected how such a big institution like the TIB works only on their ‘perception.’ So this is the reality of the TIB now,” he added.
After publication of the report, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed also blasted the TIB. “We have been working for the development of the country, but these NGOs are displaying [only] the negative matters to the global media. Have we done nothing good for the country?” he said.
Ranked as the most corrupt country during 2001-2005, Bangladesh this year stands 14th, according to the index. It ranked 16th last year. The country scored 25 on a scale of 0-100, slipping from 27 last year.
Rejecting the TI findings, Shahabuddin then said: “The statistics shown in the report is different from the real picture...The ACC is now much more active than ever before...”
Without mentioning any name, Shahabuddin yesterday strongly criticised BNP’s chief Khaleda Zia for making statements supporting the TIB findings.
“Chief of a political party and former prime minister has suddenly started making up stories supporting the TIB and produced us in the dock. She has identified the ACC as an organisation that gives immunity. She never saw herself in the mirror.
“She never placed any minister or MP before the ACC while in office. During 2004-2007, the country became champion four times in corruption [as per TI reports].” Claiming that the ACC works independently, he said: “The commission has relieved her [Khaleda] from the Bhairab bridge corruption case.”
Justice Khairul suggested that the ACC increase its workforce since the number of allegations is rising while the commission also needs efficient management.
“What the ACC is doing is right. But they should express themselves in a bold voice. If the ACC itself say they are toothless, then it will not be effective. They should have argued strongly against the World Bank about the Padma bridge corruption case saying it is their own matters.”
Justice Khairul, however, mentioned that the people were losing confidence on the police and also the ACC. “But still they come to the police and the ACC. That is why the people should not be denied justice. Accountability and visible punishment should be visible.”
According to data available with the ACC, the commission from January to August this year relieved 1,598 people from corruption charges and filed 34 cases against 904 allegations filed. During 2011-August this year, the anti-graft body relieved 5,339 people accused in corruption cases.
‘Embarrassing’
Regarding the acting ACC chairman’s remarks, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said: “Such commentary from the ACC officials is embarrassing for us while it also makes the ACC embarrassed.
“As an institution, we also have objectives and aims. We work to prevent corruption in different organisations and legal institutions while we also work for the national interest. We have no other intention. We never worked for any other particular quarter or interest.”
The ACC bears the key role to stop corruption in the country, he said: “Here play only a supportive role to create such an environment.”
About the perception index, he said: “We do not keep anything secret. Perception is what happening around us.
“We always maintain international standard while producing any report. It is true that a report will not be 100% correct since scientific method is not correct always. But it does not mean that there is no similarity with the reality.
“Perception comes on the basis of the real situation. So there is always similarity between perception and reality,” Iftekhar said.