Two foreign diplomats today said they are going to urge the government to change the controversial provision in Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) law that requires ACC to take government permission before filing a graft case against any public servant.
German Ambassador to Bangladesh Albrecht Conze and Japanese Ambassador Shiro Sadoshima revealed this during a meeting with ACC Chairman Badiuzzaman and two other commissioners at ACC office this afternoon, Mohammad Shahabuddin, a commissioner of the ACC told The Daily Star over phone.
The two ambassadors expressed their frustration over introduction of the provision in the anti-graft body’s law.
The reaction of the diplomats came three days after the Bangladesh government passed the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Act, incorporating the proposal for introducing the controversial provision.
The government passed the bill, ignoring all criticism and recommendations of a parliamentary committee.
During their talks, which lasted nearly one hour from around 11:30am, the foreign envoys said that the controversial provision is contrary to the constitution of the country, Shahabuddin added.
The diplomats said they came to know from the ACC and other sources that the newly introduced provision requires the anti-graft body to take the government’s permission before filing graft cases against public officials.
The diplomats also observed that the provision will make the ACC weak.
On the other hand, the ACC chief and two commissioners also conveyed their disappointment on the issue.
Source: The Daily Star
