ACC suggests scrutinising rationality of demand

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has recommended forming an "Additional Budget Allocation Advisory Council" under the finance ministry to scrutinise the rationality of the demand of extra allocation, often made by different ministries and departments at the beginning of fiscal year.

This will ensure "value for money" in government's expenditure, reads ACC's Annual Report-2016.

A four member team led by ACC Chairman Iqbal Mahmood yesterday handed over the report to President Abdul Hamid.

As per the report, ACC received nearly 13,000 graft allegations in 2016. Of these, the Commission conducted enquiry into 1,007 allegations and sent 588 allegations to departments or ministries concerned of the government for action.

ACC filed 359 graft cases in 2016, and arrested 13 persons for taking bribe and took legal action against them. A total of 388 graft suspects were arrested in 2016 in different graft cases.

President Abdul Hamid stressed the need for creating a strong social movement against corruption at grassroots level aiming to make general public aware of the adverse impacts of graft, and fight the social menace effectively, reports UNB.

 "There is no alternative to creating  awareness at all levels to fight graft…once a social movement is launched against corruption, it will come down," he said.

In its report, ACC has made about 65 recommendations to curb corruption.

To reduce irregularities in public examinations, ACC suggested transferring teachers to other schools during the examinations.

It has recommended amending corresponding acts of police to ensure that the law enforcement agency completes probe on time.

To facilitate people obtaining passport, it suggested that the special branch of police should provide a list of criminals to the passport department to reduce harassment.

ACC commissioners Dr Nasiruddin Ahmed and AFM Aminul Islam and its secretary Abu M Mustafa Kamal were present.