Anti-graft commission

The opposition has expressed its views clearly and negatively on the formation of the commission and in particular about the naming of BNP member Professor Maniruzzzaman Mian to the commission. Your editorial has also rightly focused on the age of the chairman of the commission. An octogenarian is old for any society and no matter how good a health he may have, his age should have been considered seriously, for he would just not be chairing this very important body; he would also be responsible for establishing this commission from scratch. It is really incredible that the government chose to burden him with this dual responsibility when age is clearly against him. However, the most important issue here that can answer everybody's question about the commission, namely its neutrality, is how serious the government is in allowing the commission to work independently. Going by the prime minister's dealing with crime where she has cracked down on the criminals irrespective of party considerations, one may be optimistic that with corruption as well she would do the right thing. But then crime and corruption are not the same. Corruption is much more evasive and all-encompassing.

Therefore the commission, despite all the fanfare, will perhaps act like the old Bureau of Anti-Corruption, a case of old wine in new bottle? The appointment of the chairman and the members point to that.

Thanks to the present government for forming an independent anti- corruption commission. But the most important thing is to make it "corruption free".

That will be the real challenge for the government.

Jalal, On e-mail

Thanks for the analysis presented in your newpaper on Nov.23rd. Already political reactions are coming as expected. The chairman of the newly formed commission gave an interview with the BBC Bangla service on 22nd Nov. . This has some indication about the difficult task ahead with 20,000 cases pending which include political cases. The chairman did mention that political cases already withdrawn would not come under their purview. He also mentioned that the commission would see what it can do . I hope I have summed up correctly the said interview with the BBC . If not, I stand for correction.

I have a few queries. In Bangladesh corruption Watch Dog had been the Bureau of Anti-Corruption. Lately, a more powerful Watch Dog has emerged called TIB . For the last four years they are reporting about the status of corruption in Bangladesh. My query is: what kind of relationship we would expect between the Anti-Corruption Commission and the TIB? Will TIB overstep into the activities of the commission and also evaluate its performance including the question of independence and neutral institution, or vice-versa?

My second question is: How much flexibility has been built in for adjustments in the new institution to eliminate some degree of controversy that will arise from time to time. I think the present controversy about personality of members might be reduced if open discussion is allowed about their background which should include strengths and weaknesses of the candidate to be a member of the newly formed commission

My third query is: Where lies the accountability of the commission, to the government or to the judiciary or both?

I have a humble suggestion to the honourable law minister. He should listen to others, instead of just putting counter arguments from a purely political perspective. I am confident that good professional suggestions will be coming from our people to make the commission an effective and acceptable institution.

A Bangladeshi On e-mail