The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is yet to establish its special squad which will be used to arrest people accused of corruption and gather evidences by using modern technology.
The commission, at a meeting on October 22 last year had discussed about forming the special squad, which would have its own uniform and transport facilities.
Furthermore, according to the ACC’s plan, the squad would use modern technologies, such as, mobile phone tracking and tapping, voice recorders, wireless communications, hidden and closed circuit cameras for surveillance in order to build up stronger cases against corrupt officials.
“For identifying a corrupted official, the commission team now uses manual processes, but if a special squad is formed, it will facilitate the investigation officials with more advanced technologies to gather concrete evidences and stop the accused from being granted a bail due to lack of evidence,” said a commission official.
ACC officials are also likely to initiate “trap assignments” in different government and private organisations, where they would deal with suspected officials as clients and will use spy cameras and voice recorders to record conversations potentially related to corrupt practices.
Justifying the “trap method” an ACC official said: “Many corrupt officials were granted bail by the courts, as the authorities did not have credible evidence against them. If we could utilise the trap method, supplemented by the use of modern equipments, we will be able to ensure punishment of corrupt officials.”
The official said: “To arrest persons accused of corruption, we need assistance of other law enforcement agencies. However, once the squad is formed, it would have the permission to arrest suspects on its own.”
The Bangladesh Telecommunication and Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has already approved the ACC’s request to track mobile phone calls while permissions to use spy cameras, walkie-talkies and voice recorders are expected to be given soon.
ACC Chairman M Badiuzzaman told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday: “We are trying to complete the process of forming the special squad soon. We have collected some instruments and completed some formalities in this regard, but there are many things, which need to be done soon.”
He said: “Since we need to have a good budget for the formation of such a squad, it will take time. But, we have partially completed some of the works.”
In May last year, the ACC held meetings with high officials of law enforcement agencies. At these meetings, officials from Rab, police and the ACC agreed to work together on the “trap missions.”
