Free ACC at stake

The World Bank has said Bangladesh government's move to amend the Anti-Corruption Commission Act will weaken the independent anti-graft watchdog and undermine its ability to investigate corruption.
"Although the current government has stated commitment to having an independent Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), it has moved to weaken the institution," said the WB's latest Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) report on Bangladesh approved by its board last month.
The report said in April this year the government endorsed amendments to the ACC Act that "will substantially limit the commission's autonomy and ability to investigate corruption." If the parliament adopts the proposed amendments "the role of the commission will be similar to that of the previous ineffective anti-corruption bureau," it added.
The WB however praised the government's economic management, promotion of information technology and overall governance since it came to power 20 months ago.
"The government's signature initiative has been to promote digital Bangladesh as a means of improving efficiency of public service delivery … the government has implemented better public financial management," the CAS report said.
A high official of the finance ministry, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the WB assessment will not only affect overall assistance, it will also have an impact on foreign direct investment and trade. Another official said the government is committed to removing whatever problems it faces while preparing the perspective plan and the 6th five-year plan. He also sought anonymity.
In April, the cabinet approved proposals to amend six clauses of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act.
Sources said the amendments are likely to be placed in the Jatiya Sangsad soon after vetting by the law ministry.
Civil society organisations have opposed the proposed amendments.
According to the WB report, since the elected government took over, the ACC has filed far fewer corruption cases than it did during the caretaker government's tenure.
It said a government commission has recommended withdrawal of thousands of corruption-related cases, almost entirely involving Awami League members.
During the caretaker government's tenure, due to the role of the ACC the position of Bangladesh improved much in the Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index, the WB report said.
Citing politicisation of the bureaucracy, it said this trend continued under the current government, which transferred hundreds of senior civil servants soon after taking office.
Bangladesh's political system continues to be marked by an extreme form of 'winner-takes-all' competition between the major parties and a culture of confrontation that excludes political opposition from its legitimate place in a democratic polity, the report said.
The WB also has some praises for the government.
It said formulation of public money and budget management act, framing budget under the medium term budgetary framework and many other recent steps would improve economic management.
The CAS report also said there are a number of promising areas where the government has taken action to improve the situation, most notably in use of information and communication technology (ICT). It is rolling out local ICT centres at the grassroots level, implementing e-filing of tax returns, and expanded use of mobile phones as a means of delivering important public information to citizens.
It presented different indicators of state of governance like government's effectiveness, rule of law, corruption perception and per capita income in Bangladesh and seven other countries which are its competitors.
According to the WB's indicators, in case of government's effectiveness, except Nigeria, Bangladesh has done poorly compared to India, Pakistan, Nepal, Indonesia, Vietnam and Kenya. Per capita income in Bangladesh is also lower than in the other countries, except Nepal.