The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman, Ghulam Rahman, says he will hold the position till the completion of four years in office from his date of joining, and that his term expires on June 23.
The question has risen as Supreme Court lawyer Mirza Al Mahmud on Wednesday served a legal notice to the ACC chief asking him to answer the legality of holding his position.
In response to journalists’ queries, the ACC chair at the commission’s headquarters in Segunbagicha said: “The period of employment becomes effective when a person joins the workplace. I will hold the position for four years after my date of joining and it will expire on June 23.”
He further said: “I have already taken clarification on this issue from the government.”
On April 30, 2009, the government appointed Ghulam Rahman, then Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission chairman, as the ACC chairman. He replaced retired Lt Gen Hasan Masshud Chowdhury, who on April 2 the same year stepped down from the post without giving any explanation.
According to a document of the public administration ministry dated on November 21, 2010, said the service of Ghulam Rahman as the ACC chairman have to be counted from the date of his joining – June 24, 2009.
Another document of the cabinet division, dated April 11, 2013, reads: Ghulam Rahman joined as the ACC chairman on June 24, 2009. Though his employment letter was issued on May 2, 2009, however, his date of service will begin from his date of joining that is June 24, 2009.
The lawyer also served the copy of the notice to the secretaries of the cabinet division, public administration ministry and the ACC.
Mirza Al Mahmud, at a press conference at the Supreme Court, said: “The gazette dated April 30, 2009, which deals with appointment of Ghulam Rahman, mentioned that the appointment of the position of ACC chairman will be effective from May 2, 2009.”
Quoting provision 6 (3) of Anti-Corruption Act 2004, he added, “The act also said the effectiveness of appointment will start from the day of employment letter and will exceed after four years. There is no way of appointment again, if the timeframe exceeds. Thus, the responsibilities of Ghulam Rahman as the chairman of the commission will be legally invalid from May 1, 2013.
“If the chairman does not resign within two days of delivery of the notice and do not respond to the notice, legal actions will be taken against the commission Chairman Ghulam Rahman,” he said.
