ACC to suffer as Mashhud resigned

Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) chairman Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury's resignation might have negative impact on the drive against corruption as honest and competent leaders like him are hard to come by, said speakers at the BBC Bangladesh Sanglap yesterday.
They said recasting the ACC by appointing a neutral and competent person at the top is now a big challenge for the government.
Taking part in the dialogue organised by BBC Bangla Service on the country's current affairs at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital yesterday, several panellists and members of the audience said relentless efforts and dynamic leadership of Mashhud helped the ACC fight corruption and succeeded in creating public awareness.
Even BNP leader barrister Nazmul Huda, who was in prison for about two years in an ACC-filed case during the caretaker government's tenure, lauded Mashhud and said his resignation might have a negative impact on the anti-corruption drive. He said it is hard to find an active person like him.
"Although I was personally affected by the ACC, he [Mashhud] is not solely responsible for this. Various factors worked here and he was not able to work free from the influence of the caretaker government," he observed.
Former general secretary of DUCSU Mosthaq Hossain said there is no question about the honesty of Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury but he was not able to do his work freely.
Terming Mashhud a competent and an honest person, founder of Democracy Watch Taleya Rahman said Mashhud had taken up a huge task. "His resignation might not completely go in vain if the government is committed to continue the anti-corruption drive," she added.
Many of the audience taking part in the dialogue said the ACC lost an honest and competent person at its helm.
Turning to the current state of student politics, the discussants said without cleansing national politics, it would not be possible to make students' politics violence free.
They said students' politics must be kept away from the influence of national politics, as many students now get involved in politics to make money through illegal means.
The participants also emphasised strengthening local government bodies and a healthy cooperation between lawmakers and upazila chairmen.