Politicians facing no corruption cases or investigations won't be barred from participating in elections if they voluntarily approach the Truth and Accountability Commission (Tac) for clemency, surrendering their ill-gotten wealth.
Tac Chairman Justice Habibur Rahman Khan said this yesterday, citing the relevant law.
Apparently unhappy about the responses so far from politicians and businessmen, the Tac chairman told the regular weekly briefing that among the 184 individuals applied for clemency, there is no politician.
About the reasons behind reluctance of politicians to come to the Tac, Justice Khan said they are not coming because of a provision barring the clemency-seekers from participating in elections for five years.
Citing another provision of the law, he said the bar to participating in elections will not be applicable to those politicians who will apply to the Tac voluntarily and if there are no cases or investigations against them.
The Tac chairman said the commission has decided to extend the deadline for clemency applications to September 30 from September 1.
He said the Tac has so far received 182 cases involving 184 individuals. Of them, 170 are government servicemen, 10 wives of some of them and two businessmen.
According to Tac sources, the government servicemen are from Rural Power Distribution Company, Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL), Roads and Highways, Titas Gas, Dhaka Electricity Supply Authority (Desa), Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), Land Registration department, Forest department, Chittagong Port Authority and Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA).
Of the cases received so far, 145 have been referred by the National Coordination Committee (NCC) on Serious Crimes and corruption while 34 by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Four persons applied themselves.
Justice Khan said the hearings of the cases will begin on September 1.
About those who already deposited their ill-gotten money with the exchequer, the Tac chairman said if they apply to the commission, it will be deemed that they got the clemency.
Asked what about jobs of the government servicemen who will be granted clemency by the Tac, Justice Khan said in the ordinance there is no mention of dismissal.
About the writ petition challenging the legality of the ordinance creating the Tac, the former High Court judge said, “Unless we get any order, we will move on.”
Meanwhile, Truth and Accountability Commission (Tac) Chairman Justice Habibur Rahman Khan and two members of the commission--Maj Gen (retd) Monjur Rashid Khan and Asif Ali-- called on President Iajuddin Ahmed at Bangabhaban yesterday.
They apprised the president of the commission's activities and sought extension of time for disposal of cases of the clemency-seeking corrupt people.
The Tac team also informed the president that the commission had received 183 applications until Tuesday. ”
According to the provision of the ordinance, the period of case disposal is confined to only 22 days with extension of seven days. The team said it will be difficult to dispose of the cases within this time.
The president gave a patient hearing to the chairman and members of the commission and assured them of possible cooperation.
Secretary of the President's Office Md Sirajul Islam, Military Secretary to the President Major General Muhammad Ruhul Amin and President's Press Secretary Abdul Awal Howlader were present.