Anti-Corruption Commission (Bangladesh)
| Anti Corruption Commission দুর্নীতি দমন কমিশন | |
|---|---|
 Crest of Anti-Corruption Commission | |
| Abbreviation | ACC দুদক |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 23 February 2004 |
| Annual budget | ৳191 crore (US$16 million) (2024-2025) |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| National agency | Bangladesh |
| Operations jurisdiction | Bangladesh |
| Constituting instrument |
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| Specialist jurisdiction | |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | 1, Segun Baghicha, Dhaka 1000[1] |
| Agency executives |
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| Website | |
| acc | |
The Anti Corruption Commission (Bengali: দুর্নীতি দমন কমিশন; often abbreviated: ACC, Bengali: দুদক) is the principal government agency against corruption in Bangladesh.
History
[edit]
The Anti-Corruption Commission was formed through an act promulgated on 23 February 2004 that came into force on 9 May 2004. Although initially, it could not make the desired impact, immediately following its reconstitution in February 2007, the ACC began working with renewed vigor and impetus duly acceding to the United Nations Convention against corruption that was adopted by the General Assembly away back on 31 October 2003. Its framework and function are governed by Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004.[4]
In 2009, Ghulam Rahman was appointed chairman of the commission, replacing Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury.[5]
Anti Corruption Commission was formed through an act in 2004, but is considered to be largely ineffective in investigating and preventing corruption because of governmental control over it.[6][7] The Anti-Corruption Commission of Bangladesh is crippled by the 2013 amendment of the Anti Corruption Commission Act introduced by the ruling Awami League government, which makes it necessary for the commission to obtain permission from the government to investigate or file any charge against government bureaucrats or politicians.[8] The commission is often criticised for being ineffective and a wastage of resources due to the influence of the government over it.[9]
In June 2013, the government appointed M Badiuzzaman chairman of Anti-Corruption Commission replacing Ghulam Rahman and Nasiruddin Ahmed was appointed commissioner.[10]
In 2015, the ACC investigated the case of Padma Bridge Scandal. Even though the World Bank continuously pushed the government to take action against the perpetrators, after 53 days of investigation, ACC found nobody to be guilty. On the basis of ACC's report, Dhaka district judge court acquitted all the seven government officials who were believed to be involved in the corruption plot.[11] Before that, ACC even exonerated Syed Abul Hossain and ex-state minister for foreign affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury from the allegation of involvement in the corruption conspiracy.[12]
In May 2016, Iqbal Mahmood was made chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission replacing M Bodiuzzaman, and A F M Aminul Islam was appointed commissioner replacing Mohammed Shahabuddin Chuppu.[13]
Deputy Inspector General Mizanur Rahman tried to pay 4 million taka to an investigator of Anti-Corruption Commission, Director Khandaker Enamul Basir, to stop a corruption investigation against him.[14] Rahman was convicted of trying to bribe Basir sentenced to three years imprisonment and Basir was sentenced to eight years imprisonment in the corruption case.[15][16]
Organization
[edit]The commission has formulated some forms of corruption in Bangladesh, for everyone to know, understand and prepare to completely erase corruption, if not reduce it.
- Bribery: It is the offering of money, services, or other valuables to persuade someone to do something in return. Synonyms: kickbacks, baksheesh (tips), payola, hush money, sweetener, protection money, boodle, and gratuity.
- Embezzlement: Taking of money, property, or other valuables by the person to whom it has been entrusted for personal benefit.
- Extortion: Demanding or taking of money, property, or other valuables through the use of coercion and/or force. A typical example of extortion would be when armed police or military men exact money for passage through a roadblock. Synonyms include blackmail, bloodsucking, and extraction.
- Abuse of discretion: The abuse of office for private gain, but without external inducement or extortion. Patterns of such abuses are usually associated with bureaucracies in which broad individual discretion is created, few oversights or accountability structures are present, as well as those in which decision-making rules are so complex as to neutralize the effectiveness of such structures even if they exist.
- Improper political contributions: Payments made in an attempt to unduly influence present or future activities by a party or its members when they are in office.[17]
Anti Corruption Commission established district committees all over Bangladesh with each having 10 members.[18]
Notable cases
[edit]- The Commission filed cases against former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia regarding graft at the Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust.[19]
- The Commission filed cases against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and eight others on 7 May 2008 for awarding a gas exploration and extraction deal to Niko Resources through corruption and abuse of power.[20][21]
List of chairmen
[edit]The Chairmen of the Anti-Corruption Commission are as follows:
- Sultan Hossain Khan (23 February 2004 – 8 February 2007)
- Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury (22 February 2007 – 2 April 2009)
- Ghulam Rahman (1 May 2009 – 23 June 2013)
- M Badiuzzaman (24 June 2013 – 6 March 2016)
- Iqbal Mahmood (14 March 2016 – 9 March 2021)
- Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah (10 March 2021 – 29 October 2024)[22]
References
[edit]- ^ Info. "Office Locations". acc.org.bd. Anti-Corruption Commission. Archived from the original on 11 May 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ^ "ACC chairman, commissioners resign: Sources". The Business Standard. 29 October 2024.
- ^ "ACC chairman, two commissioners resign". The Daily Observer. 29 October 2024.
- ^ Anti-corruption Commission Act (PDF). 2004.
- ^ "Ghulam Rahman new ACC chief". The Daily Star. 1 May 2009. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ "ACC largely ineffective". The Daily Star. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- ^ "Anti Corruption Commission and Political Government: An Evaluation of Awami League Regime (2009–2012) | Government and Politics, JU". govpoliju.com. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- ^ Iftekhar Zaman, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (14 November 2013), Anti-corruption Commission (Amendment) Bill Unconstitutional, discriminatory, self-defeating, retrieved 7 May 2016
- ^ Syeda Naushin Parnini (2011). "Governance Reforms and Anti-Corruption Commission in Bangladesh". Governance and Corruption. The Romanian Journal of Political Science. 11 (1).
- ^ "Badiuzzaman new ACC chief, Nasiruddin commissioner". Risingbd.com. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ "All Padma bridge graft accused acquitted". The Daily Star. 26 October 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
- ^ "The Financialexpress-bd". The Financial Express. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
- ^ "Iqbal to serve ACC as public servant". Prothom Alo. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ^ "Police launch probe into DIG Mizan's 'misdeeds'". The Daily Star. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
- ^ "Disgraced police officer Mizanur jailed for 3 years for bribery, ACC's Basir gets 8 years". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
- ^ "SC upholds bail granted to suspend ex-DIG Mizan". New Age. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
- ^ "A Glance at Corruption in its many Forms". Youthink!. Archived from the original on 12 April 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
- ^ "Anti-corruption bodies to start functioning at districts, UZs soon". The Daily Star. UNB. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ^ "Khaleda Zia petitions High Court for fresh plaintiff testimonies". bdnews24.com. 15 June 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ^ Tran, Mark (3 September 2007). "Former Bangladeshi leader held on corruption charges". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
- ^ "Niko corruption case against Hasina shifted to special court". The Daily Star. 21 May 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
- ^ "ACC chairman, two commissioners resign". The Daily Star. 29 October 2024.