ACC should investigate

Faced with a barrage of reports, the Industries Ministry has formed a probe committee to investigate into the long-running cases of graft involving fertiliser shipment, transportation and management. While the move is to be welcomed, we would hope that the probe will be conducted objectively. Our experience with ministry-run investigations is not always pleasant, as many such probes, have lacked transparency or petered out before seeing the light of the day. 

The reports clearly show a certain extent of collusion between some officials of the BCIC and private distributors. What is crystal clear is the alleged role of some of the officials of government-run BCIC, who, for years, have apparently turned a blind eye to the corrupt practises or, at worst, have been complicit in the crime.  

We find it beyond belief that the higher authorities of the BCIC and the ministry have never had a wind of the systematic mismanagement and siphoning of public money that has cost the state about Tk 100 crore. Not to mention that this practice has been going on for about a decade. And this aspect should also be investigated, at least for the purpose of plugging any loopholes in the future. 

In this light and given the magnitude of the offence, we urge the Anti-corruption Commission to take cognizance of the case and launch an inquiry into the alleged crimes. Defalcation of public money should not go unpunished, and it is crucial that accountability and transparency is ensured in such matters.