Coordination needed for fighting graft

Speakers at the BBC Bangladesh Sanglap yesterday said there should be coordination among different government agencies and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in combating corruption.
Referring to the recent remark of Army Chief of Staff Gen Moeen U Ahmed that fresh list of corrupt people would not be prepared from the next month, the speakers said as the ACC is independent, the matter should be left to the anti-graft body.
"If the advisers and chiefs of both the Army and the Anti-Corruption Commission speak over a matter with coordination, then it will help to lessen panic among the people," said General Secretary of Women for Women Prof Mahmuda Islam.
The businesspeople could not do business smoothly as there was panic among them during the recent months, former BGMEA president Annisul Huq said, adding, "To bring back confidence among us the army chief has said that no fresh list of corruptionists will be prepared."
He said there should be coordination between the army chief and the ACC chairman over combating corruption as 'their comments sometimes create panic among the businessmen'.
Former opposition chief whip and AL leader Abdus Shahid and former BNP lawmaker Maj (retd) Akhtaruzzaman also took part in the Sanglap as panellists.
BBC Bangla Service in conjunction with the BBC World Service Trust organised the event moderated by BBC's Kamal Ahmed.
Akhtaruzzaman said the army chief should leave it up to the ACC to make lists of corrupt businessmen who 'used politicians to indulge in corruption to earn money'. "It will not be right to stop listing corrupt businessmen," he said.
There is no reason to stop the drive against corruption, AL leader Abdus Shahid also said, adding, "The army chief might have made the comment to pacify the businessmen."
Replying to a query, Maj Akhtar ruled out any possibility of BNP splitting following expulsion of Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan. "BNP won't split even if its chairperson is expelled," Akhtar said adding that Bhuiyan's expulsion has cheered the people. The three other speakers, however, observed that the BNP is going to break up.
Asked by the audience whether the army chief's statements on different policy issues go beyond the accepted norms, Maj (retd) Akhtar said with the mandate of the people the current army chief has been giving statements. He also said that as the president who is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces is sick, Gen Moeen should be given the charge.
Responding to a query whether the government is playing double standards by giving one group of politicians the opportunity to hold meetings, Abdus Shahid said if the government resumes indoor politics the question over double standard will not arise.
Maj (retd) Akhtar said, "The law adviser himself is not balanced. He has been putting the government in an awkward situation.”