"They will also propose that the government introduce some laws necessary for the commission to be tough on everyone irrespective of position, status or political affiliation," said sources close to the newly appointed ACC chairman.

The government on Thursday appointed ex-army chief Lt Gen (retired) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury as the chairman and former district judge M Habibur Rahman and former National Board of Revenue (NBR) member Abul Hasan Manjur Mannan as the commissioners.

The three will join their new jobs tomorrow.

On entering the office, Hasan Mashhud, also a former adviser to the caretaker government, will submit his wealth statement.

Before agreeing to take up the position, he had a series of discussions with the government high-ups on issues like obstacles to curbing corruption and how those could be overcome, said a source in the administration.

He had a firm assurance from the government that the ACC would be given full rein in its efforts to combat corruption effectively.

He was also told that they would be allowed to maintain an even-handed approach to containing the graft menace. The commission would be free to act against anyone no matter how influential they might be, added the source.

With Mashhud at the helm, it will first assess how much room the existing system gives it for exercising the powers against corruption.

It will turn to the government if the task ahead warrants radical reforms in the relevant laws and procedures.

There's already a broad consensus of opinion about making some major amendments to the Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2004. Some other laws that have provisions pertaining to graft would also be reviewed and if needed amended.

The former army boss has already had an informal talk with ACC Secretary Delwar Hossain, said sources adding that he has been doing homework and weighing how to go about the new job.

Initially, the commission will have a target set for six months and after that it will evaluate the performance and the effectiveness of the mechanisms it adopted during that period.

They will proceed if the progress is satisfactory or otherwise they will work to overcome the shortcomings.

The reorganised ACC will get on with its work bearing two things in mind--it will strive to revitalise the commission and give people the impression that no one is beyond the reach of the law.

Formed in November 2004 with a chairman and two commissioners, the ACC failed to be functional even in over two years' time.

Throughout their stints and also before stepping down, the former chairman and the commissioners complained that they had been facing numerous legal and procedural snags in carrying out their duties.

Communications Adviser Major Gen (retired) MA Matin however observed that the ACC had been rendered a crippled body from the very outset by the then four-party alliance government.

Against this backdrop, the present caretaker government decided to reconstitute the commission and accordingly, appointed the new chairman and commissioners. It also upgraded the status of the chairman to that of a minister from an Appellate Division judge.

Mashhud's reputation for discipline, Habibur's experience in the judiciary and Manjur's in tax administration were among the considerations when the government made the appointments.

Commission's Secretary Delwar Hossain has been overseeing its functions since resignations of the former ACC members in the second week of February.

The anti-graft law states that if anyone is to be ordered to submit their wealth statement the decision must come from a meeting of the ACC chairman and commissioners.

But during the last few days when the key posts remained vacant, the ACC secretary unveiled a list of 50 people accused of graft and asked them to furnish wealth statements within a 72-hour time frame that ends at 5:00pm tomorrow.

Sources said the commission would give an ex post facto approval to the ACC secretary's activities since February 7 or they might ask the government for an ordinance validating those.

Besides, it would have meetings with officials at the local administrations and representatives down to the union level across the country and seek their cooperation in combating corruption, they added.

The recast ACC also plans to caution everyone in the administration and other sectors--private or public--that from now on no one would be spared of action against corruption.

It will increase its manpower and hire expert lawyers so that the graft cases are dealt with effectively.

In the past, the anti-graft body lost many a case that eventually amounted to certifying as not guilty the ones it had brought charges against. The commission now will be determined not to repeat those.

It will look to different other measures as well including requesting the countries and organisations having a vast experience in tackling corruption for counsel and technical support.

Sources said a number of countries are ready to help the ACC once it becomes functional.

Contacted, Hasan Mashhud yesterday told The Daily Star that he was ready to take up the challenge that is to curb corruption. He however declined to elaborate on his plans before assuming the post formally.

On the first day, the ACC members are likely to meet the president and the chief adviser. They would also meet Law Adviser Mainul Hosein and MA Matin, both members of the anti-graft advisory council, to discuss various aspects of corruption.

Possible contingencies in the post-emergency period might also come up for discussion as actions so far against the political bigwigs and others accused of graft have been taken under the emergency rules.

Meanwhile, the ACC secretary has asked all staff of the commission to submit wealth statements within march 15.