Suranjit slams new ACC law

Suranjit Sengupta. Star file photo

Minister without portfolio Suranjit Sengupta has strongly criticised a new provision of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) law that requires ACC to get prior permission from the government before filing graft cases against public servants.
Replying to a query about the controversial provision in ACC law, the senior leader of the ruling Awami League termed the amendment as “barrier” to building up a democratic institution.
Suranjit was addressing a press briefing at Jatiya Sangsad Media Centre this afternoon.
Referring to the constitution’s Article 58 (2, 4), he said that cabinet members have submitted resignation letters as per the will of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Section 2 of Article 58 reads: “The Prime Minister may at any time request a Minister to resign, and if such Minister fails to comply with the request, may advise the President to terminate the appointment of such Minister.”
Meanwhile, Section 4 of the same article says, “If the Prime Minister resigns from or ceases to hold office each of the other Ministers shall be deemed also to have resigned from office but shall, subject to the provisions of this Chapter, continue to hold office until his successor has entered upon office.”
But this will not be considered as resignation until the premier sends the letters to the president requesting him to take necessary steps in this regard.
“Therefore, what the ministers have done is 100 percent constitutional and legal,” said Suranjit.
He said that those who are saying that the cabinet has been dissolved after the submission of the resignation letters “are politically biased, confused and delivering disrespectful statements”.
Even if the ministers submit resignation, they, according to the constitution, will continue in their offices till the next cabinet takes over, Suranjit said.

Source: The Daily Star