ACC wants offices in districts to meet public expectations
September 16, 20248 Mins Read
Jumbangla Desk: The journey of the Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) from the Anti-Corruption Bureau on November 21, 2004 to curb corruption. At present, the anti-corruption and anti-corruption activities are being conducted in 36 integrated district offices across the country. Dhaka Post has reported in detail about the issues that have been observed as obstacles to their activities and what is really needed in the organization. From that report, the following is exactly:
With a small number of offices and limited manpower, Bangladesh, with a population of about 170 million, is constantly struggling to meet the expectations of the people. The ACC is deprived of real work freedom due to political and bureaucratic adverse pressure on it. As a result, the organization has to take responsibility for failing to meet people's expectations.
The state anti-corruption agency has to deal with a difficult situation due to limited offices and shortage of skilled manpower despite taking various commendable initiatives including Hotline-106, Enforcement Unit and Forensic Lab to deliver services to people's doorsteps. As a result, the main purpose of establishing ACC is not being implemented.
According to those who have been working as officers and employees of ACC for a long time, real leadership qualities should be the first among those who are appointed from director to chairman level to realize the real purpose of the organization. At the same time there should be competence and integrity. Apart from this, there is a need for highly skilled manpower as a specialized agency, ACC offices in all districts, logistical and structural support. Otherwise the ACC will never be a terror to the real corrupt, freedom of action will remain only on paper.
ACC officials and employees complain that we always have to take responsibility for the failure of the institution. However, almost all of those who have been or are currently in charge of managing the ACC do not consider the ACC to be their own institution. Because, most of them are officers on mission. They serve three to four years and leave. Most of them belong to the administration cadre. They continue to act as protective charms for their cadre superiors. That group never wanted a strong ACC. Because of that, increasing the skills of ACC's own officers and employees, recognition of work, timely promotion or logistic support etc. are always neglected. Apart from this, there is invisible pressure from the government.
Executive Director of TIB newly responsible for the reform of the ACC. Iftekharuzzaman said, 'At this moment ACC needs a change of leadership first. ACC can never be expected to function well with the current leadership. Then there is the need for legal reform. Earlier, the ACC has been weakened in the name of legal amendments. That place needs fixing. Thirdly, nearly 100% of the delegations are representatives of the bureaucracy, from the Director General to the Director below the Chairman and the Commissioner. Sitting in the ACC, they show loyalty to the bureaucracy and work to keep the bureaucracy alive. So this practice should be stopped.'
'Then institutional capacity should be increased. In that case there are many good manpower, their work should be recognized. Many others play a supporting role in corruption, they should be brought under accountability. Besides, modern labs are needed to increase the capacity of ACC. Although there are forensic labs, which I know are not that effective. New corruption methods are being added, there is a need for training on that.'
It is necessary to have ACC offices in 64 districts of the country - he commented and said, 'More than increasing the branch offices of ACC, it is necessary first of all - how effectively the existing offices are able to work; To ensure effective and efficient anti-corruption by ensuring efficient and trained manpower in the offices where there are. Besides ensuring technical and logistic support. ACC office or manpower crisis in all districts certainly deserves consideration, but I think it is not a matter of highest priority.'
On the other hand, former director general of ACC and former district judge. Moidul Islam said, the first task will be to reorganize the commission. It is necessary to reconstitute the commission with competent, experienced, prudent and transparent people. Leadership is a big issue here. Another thing is to arrange speedy trial in corruption cases. Good results cannot be achieved without quick judgement. In that case, from the lower to the appellate court, a separate court should be formed for ACC only and its own prosecution unit should be started. The matter is time consuming, yet implementation is imperative.
Taking into account the spread of corruption and the issue of government services, there is a need to set up ACC offices in at least 64 districts, he claimed, adding, 'If the ACC works properly and if the government provides enough environment to work, action can be taken against major corruption. Along with this, the court should ensure speedy punishment. In that case it will be possible to prevent petty corruption. Because, downward corruption may be prevented by departmental system. In this regard, the ACC office will play a major role in all districts. Although manpower and logistic support will be required with this.
The former director general of the ACC said, emphasizing on increasing the efficiency of the officers, specially skilled manpower is definitely needed in the field of quality investigation and investigation. Although deputed manpower is required here, it can be sector-wise skilled manpower. But the ACC has always been dominated by the administration cadre. ACC has been weakened by this, it should be stopped. I don't think there is any need for it.
The ACC was once the only agency empowered to investigate and investigate all crimes related to money laundering, including the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. In 2015, the law was amended, out of the 27 crimes, money laundering offenses stemming from bribery and corruption were kept under the jurisdiction of the ACC, and six agencies of the government were tasked with investigating and investigating the rest. As a result, all other money-laundering offenses arising from domestic and foreign currency smuggling, forgery and fraud offenses fall outside the jurisdiction of the ACC. The company has been struggling to regain its lost power for a long time and failed. Laws and regulations need to be amended to restore ACC's earlier powers.
Incidentally, the Prevention of Money Laundering Act-2012 mandates seven agencies to investigate 27 predicate offences. The agencies are – ACC, Police Intelligence Department (CID), National Board of Revenue (NBR), Bangladesh Customs, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC), Directorate of Environment and Directorate of Narcotics Control. According to the Prevention of Money Laundering Rules-2019, the seven agencies will investigate the predicate offenses assigned to them. According to the rules, the ACC is solely responsible for the investigation of an offense involving 'corruption and bribery'.
On the other hand, there are allegations of converting the commission into a government institution like the former bureau by handing over the powers of appointment and transfer of ACC officers to the Secretary on December 18, 2023. About which TIBO has expressed concern. According to the rules, the executive power of the ACC was vested in the Chairman and the Commissioners headed by him. ACC's own staff and the TIB felt that the powers of the Commission had been eroded by the blanket transfer of executive powers to the Secretary. As a result of the suicidal decision, all the powers of permanent and regularization of the employment of ACC investigating officers, current duties, allowances and leave, pension, PRL and awards in terms of case sentences have been entrusted to the bureaucracy.
In this regard, the executive director of TIB. Iftekharuzzaman said, 'In order to ensure the independence and capacity of the ACC, the administrative and financial powers of the organization, along with the appointment, posting and transfer of manpower should be removed from the ACC Secretary and entrusted to the commission. The relevant section of the law should be amended to ensure the powers of the ACC to investigate and take action on illegal acquisition of wealth and money laundering through corruption. For example – Civil Service Act- 2018; Prevention of Money Laundering Act- 2012 and Income Tax Act- 2023.
Investigations, investigations, raids by enforcement units and preventive functions are carried out through the head office, district and divisional offices of the ACC. At present, corruption prevention and anti-corruption work is done from Dhaka to remote areas through 37 offices. According to ACC's own staff, it is difficult to continue operations at all district and upazila levels from those offices. Because the distance between the districts is very high.
If the upazila or remote area is taken into consideration, it becomes more difficult to work. As it applies to investigative and investigative work, it is even more so for enforcement work. For example, it is very difficult for the enforcement unit to carry out an operation from the Barisal office on any complaint of corruption in an upazila of Bhola district and return to the office and take legal action or arrest the accused. Apart from this, the cost is high as the distance is long, and in many cases the expected results are not possible. On the other hand, quality work is also not guaranteed.
According to ACC staff, all the activities of three districts are usually managed under one district office. It is the duty of the enforcement department to ensure prompt action. But if we take into consideration the three issues of manpower crisis, logistic support and distance, the main goal of enforcement cannot be said to be achieved. In this case, if there are offices in all districts, the implementation of that objective would be easier.
Apart from this, various preventive programs such as Satta Sangh, Satta Store and school debates along with various social works are also in place to support the local administration. Most of the time those who are working as our guides do not understand these things or even if they understand they do not take steps to speed up the work with responsibility.
Again the scope of work of an inquiry and investigation officer is very wide. An officer has to perform many tasks simultaneously. He has to do in-depth analysis of all corruption related matters, issuing letters and notices, taking statements of persons concerned with complaints, then preparing reports, maintaining constant communication with the supervisory officer as well as clerical work.
In that case not even an assistant is available. Lack of logistical support includes lack of transportation, room shortages, or other logistical support. As a result it is not possible to ensure quality work within the specified time. If there is undue interference from the superiors in the work, then the ACC staff feel that it is impossible to see the success of that work.
They also say that our 20th to 10th grade officers get risk allowance. But Assistant Director, Deputy Director and Director who are Grade VI to IX officers of ACC directly involved in investigation and investigation work do not get risk allowance. This also needs to be taken into special consideration.
Current office and manpower of ACC
Before 2004, the Anti-Corruption Bureau had district offices in 64 districts. After the establishment of ACC in 2007, it was reduced to 22. However, in 2022, 14 offices were connected again. Apart from the head office, ACC has 36 district offices across the country. These are – Integrated District Office Dhaka-1, Integrated District Office Dhaka-2, Faridpur, Mymensingh, Tangail, Chittagong District Office-1, Chittagong District Office-2, Rangamati, Comilla, Noakhali, Sylhet, Habiganj, Barisal, Pabna, Bogra. , Rangpur, Dinajpur, Khulna, Jessore, Comilla, Barisal and Patuakhali district offices.
The newly added ACC offices in 2022 are Narayanganj, Gazipur, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Naogaon, Kishoreganj, Jamalpur, Kurigram, Thakurgaon, Chandpur, Cox's Bazar, Jhenaidah, Pirojpur and Habiganj. Where there are 2098 posts including one chairman, two commissioners, one secretary, eight directors general and 37 directors. Although there are about 1200 working officers and employees.
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