Appoint OCs from BCS cadre

To provide better public service at a root level, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has recommended appointing BCS cadre officials as officers-in-charge of police stations.

“Often there are allegations that victims are not getting the expected service. In some cases, there are allegations of misconduct, harassment, misuse of power and corruption ….

“Therefore, officials with ranks of assistant superintendent of police or additional superintendent of police could be posted as officers-in-charge of police stations,” said the ACC in its annual report.

The commission believes people will have more faith in BCS cadres posted as OCs.

The government has agreed to the recommendation in principle. 

ACC Chairman Iqbal Mahmood, accompanied by commissioners AFM Aminul Islam and Md Mozammel Haque Khan, yesterday handed over the report to President Abdul Hamid at the latter’s Bangabhaban residence cum office.

After receiving the report, President Hamid asked the ACC to ensure proper punishment of the corrupt individuals and not to harass innocent people, reports BSS.

The president also directed the anti-graft watchdog to conduct drives against corruption in education, health and other service sectors.

The ACC report highlights corruption and irregularities at different sectors including education, health, government job recruitment, passport issuance and civil aviation.

“It’s unfortunate that the universities of Bangladesh could not achieve expected success in the international arena. They are also losing their tradition. …. Nepotism and corruption in recruiting teachers are damaging the image of higher education institutions,” read the report.

The ACC recommended formulating a coordinated recruitment policy to recruit teachers.

The commission mentioned receiving allegations of corruption, nepotism and irregularities in recruitment process at government, semi-government, autonomous and statutory government organisations.

“Corruption during recruitment can be considered as nascent of corruption,” the report said.   

It suggested forming several commissions for recruitment to curb corruption, harassment and autocracy.

Meanwhile, the president said that corrupt individuals, whoever he or she may be, must be punished.

Stressing the need for fair investigation into corruption cases, he asked the ACC authority to take effective measures for enhancing the capacity of the investigation officers (IOs).

Referring to Bangladesh getting the status of a developing state, the president said, “Corruption must be removed from society and the authority concerned will have to take different motivational programmes for the new generation to keep them away from corrupt practices.”

He also stressed building awareness campaigns and social resistance against corruption at all strata of life.

Talking to journalists after handing over the annual report, Iqbal said the president asked the ACC to take a zero-tolerance stance on corruption in the education and health sectors.

In response to another question on ACC persecuting “petty corruptors”, Iqbal said about 80 percent of the country’s people lived in villages and were victims of corruption, irregularities and misuse of power by such corruptors.

“That’s why the ACC will not spare them. We will instead strengthen the legal process against them,” he added.

The ACC chairman also said they had led several drives against land-grabbing and he cautioned grabbers of stern legal action.

On the banking sector, Iqbal said, “Banks will carry out their business as per their own rules; the commission will not interfere in it. But it will continue to take action against people involved in misappropriation of bank money.”

Asked whether the ACC was subservient to the government, he said, “It’s impossible.”

“The ACC is not a government organisation, it’s a statutory body. That’s why the ACC does not submit its annual report to the government but rather to the president.”