ACC to watch 'graft-prone' govt offices, agencies
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Iqbal Mahmood yesterday said they would specially monitor government offices and organisations which were allegedly prone to corruption.
“Complaints against corruption are our main concern; we don't care about whether one is a cadre or non-cadre (official),” he told a press briefing at his office, revealing ACC's 2017 work plan.
Seeking anonymity, an ACC official said they would monitor land offices, Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakkha, National Housing Authority, local government bodies including city corporations, health and education offices, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, and passport office.
Last year, ACC held a mass hearing over alleged irregularities and corruption in Rajuk, BRTA, Passport and Immigration Department and local land offices.
The anti-graft watchdog caught red-handed 13 people during exchange of bribes in 2016, Iqbal Mahmood said adding that in 2017 the number would rise as ACC had boosted its monitoring in this regard.
“Whoever is involved will face dire consequences,” he warned.
BASIC BANK CASE
The ACC chief said that about Tk 359.16 crore had been deposited in troubled state-run BASIC Bank since March 14, 2016, while over Tk 3,000 crore worth of loans was rescheduled within this time.
The board of BASIC Bank led by Sheikh Abdul Hye Bacchu disbursed around Tk 6,500 crore in loans between 2010 and June 2014, mostly on forged documents and inflated mortgages.
The BASIC Bank case is complicated, therefore, ongoing steps over it are taking a long time, he said, responding to a query.
All ports including that of land and air were informed about the suspects in the BASIC Bank case in order to stop them from leaving the country, he added.
2017 WORK PLAN
The ACC chairman said in the current year they would open a Wealth Recovery Unit.
“When an accused dies at the time of trial, inheritors get the property and victims are deprived. That's why we are planning to formulate a way to freeze wealth earned through corruption until the disposal of a case,” he said.
To strengthen ACC, Iqbal Mahmood said they would form a detective unit this year, which could carry and use light arms.
ACC is also planning to set up detention centres at its head office and every district coordination office around the country.
The commission will also launch a hotline -- 106 -- to receive allegations of corruption.
Comments