ACC sources said the chairman took the controversial initiative without any meeting of the commission. He will send the proposal to the cabinet division and establishment ministry.

Justice Sultan also plans to propose appointment of 29 government officials of different departments for the ACC on deputation, and transfer nine officials of the now defunct Bureau of Anti-Corruption (Bac) to other 'vacant posts' of the non-existent Bac, the sources said.

The government dissolved Bac with the formation of the ACC on November 21 last year.

Announcing the Bac staff as reserved government employees later, the government ordered them not to work for the ACC until completion of their screening and formulation of an organogram of the ACC.

But the chairman on different occasions moved to attach Bac officials to the ACC despite the government prohibition. Finally, the ACC last month decided to attach all Bac staff to it on temporary basis.

Yesterday, the commission chairman sent a note to the two ACC commissioners about his initiative for the formation of intelligence and counter-intelligence units with 20 army officials. He also informed them about his move for appointment of 29 government officials who include customs, tax and police officials and also some judges.

Mentioning their names, Justice Sultan said an evaluation found them eligible to work in the commission.

But ACC sources said no such evaluation took place.

"The chairman has moved to appoint 49 officials including 20 from the army for the commission against vacant posts in Bac that no longer exists, creating confusion, " an ACC source said.

No organogram for the commission has been formulated as yet.

Justice Sultan was not available for his comment last night.

When contacted, ACC Commissioner Maniruddin Ahmed however said he was not aware of any initiatives by the chairman.

Meanwhile, the chairman has imposed restrictions on journalists' entry to the ACC office. Guards at the entrance to the office have been asked to prevent journalists' visits.

Journalists willing to meet any ACC officials are now to put their names and address and identity of the persons they want to meet in a register book kept at the office entrance since Monday. No journalist was allowed to meet any official without his consent.