None will be spared in anti-graft drive

Newly appointed Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Ghulam Rahman yesterday said the anti-graft watchdog would once again prove that none is above law as it did in the last two years' anti-graft drive.
The anti-graft drive of the last caretaker government was the need of time, right, and justified,” said Ghulam Rahman who took over his office on May 1.
“Still now some people think that they are above law; the ACC will prove once again that none is above law and it will ensure equal punishment of all corrupt people,” he asserted.
Former ACC chief Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury stepped down suddenly on April 3, 85 days after the AL-led grand alliance assumed power without showing any reason amidst widespread speculations that his resignation followed some awkward situation created since formation of the new political government.
“A shaking up was needed at that time. None will be spared from the anti-corruption drive in future whoever he or she is,” he said at a press briefing at the ACC headquarters.
“I will go by the book, follow the rules and try to be just and reasonable always,” said the new ACC chief.
The new ACC boss said the ACC would consider the cases filed by it in which people received capital punishment for trivial crime on recommendations of the government.
Replying to a query what would the decision of the commission be if the government recommends withdrawing cases under the excuse of their being politically motivated, he said, “If injustice was done to anyone the commission will consider those in accordance with the depth of the crime.”
He also mentioned that activities of the commission would continue for the next three months as it was during the last two years and changes might be brought in its way of work later on.
“ACC will not take any action against anyone out of any liking or disliking. It would not be the cause of sufferings of any innocent,” he added.
On the charges against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and opposition Chief Khaleda Zia pressed during the caretaker government, he said: "They got justice in people's court."
The former bureaucrat, who retired as shipping ministry secretary in 2004, was appointed as chairman of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission by the last caretaker government.
The BNP-led four-party alliance government constituted the ACC on November 21, 2004 with Justice Sultan Hossain Khan as its chief with the status of a Supreme Court judge.
But the commission failed to keep the anti-graft watchdog functional and came under bitter criticism for its 'partisan role.'
The caretaker government on February 22, 2007 appointed Lt General (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury, also former adviser to a caretaker government, as the ACC chairman, upgrading the status of the ACC chairman to that of a minister from the status of the Appellate Division judge of the Supreme Court.
Habibur Rahman took charge of ACC as the senior commissioner in accordance with the ACC act following Mashhud's resignation and carried out its activities since Mashhud's resignation.