Shahabuddin, shhh!

He is the acting chief of the graft watchdog. But his statement yesterday about BNP chief Khaleda Zia and the TIB sounded like a political leader bashing his rivals.

Shahabuddin does not hang back from launching counter-attacks against any criticism of the Anti-Corruption Commission. Like the government high-ups, he slammed the Transparency International Bangladesh for revealing the country's position in the global Corruption Perception Index.

“The former prime minister [Khaleda Zia] all of a sudden has started telling made-up stories about the ACC at different public meetings. But she doesn't say we had exonerated her [from a corruption charge] over the Bhairab bridge,” he told a function at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the capital.

The event was organised marking the International Anti-Corruption Day 2014.

“You [Khaleda] term it a commission of giving clean chit [to accused], but it doesn't befit you. You didn't see any corruption during the tenure of your government; you rather shelved it,” added Shahabuddin.

He also doubted whether the TIB was serving the agenda of some quarters.

“Whatever information you [TIB] sent [to Transparency International] has been reflected on from an international perspective. You are an enemy within,” he said.

According to the TI's global Corruption Perception Index 2014, corruption rose in Bangladesh as it slid two notches to rank the 14th most corrupt country in the world.

Bangladesh scored 25 points out of 100, two points less than last year's, shows the index released on December 3 by the Berlin-based graft watchdog.

The attack on TIB by Shahabuddin is nothing new. On May 28, he questioned the transparency of the TI's Bangladesh chapter.

The following day, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, “If the ACC wants to unmask any of our activities, it can start probing today. Even it can file cases.”

The ACC is yet to take up the challenge.

Speaking at the function as the chief guest, former chief justice and Chairman of Bangladesh Law Commission Justice ABM Khairul Haque slammed the ACC for poor investigations into graft allegations. “Charge sheets submitted to courts by ACC officials are very weak.”

Saying that people's perception of the anti-graft body is not good, he asked it not to misbehave with people. “The president, prime minister, chief justice and ACC officials are all servants of the people. All should work keeping it in mind.”

ACC Commissioner Nasiruddin Ahmed and its top officials were present, among others.

Talking to The Daily Star yesterday, Iftekharuzzaman said the graft watchdog at a meeting said Shahabuddin's comments on TIB were not proper. “The ACC chairman along with two commissioners requested me to forget the matter.”

“I believe they [ACC officials] will realise it again and will refrain from making such embarrassing comments,” he added.

In January last year, Shahabuddin reportedly sponsored publication of a newspaper advertisement welcoming Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Pabna.

He had promised paying the Pabna Press Club, of which he is a life member, for the advertisement which was published on the front page of a Bangla daily on January 29 last year, claimed Ahmed Ul Huq Rana, then secretary of Pabna Press Club.