Bangladesh set to intensify anti-corruption drive

The caretaker government is reportedly all set to intensify the anti-corruption drive in Bangladesh with new amendments lined up to provide more teeth to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

"The government is working on the amendments and the amended rules will come within a day or two, sources were quoted in the media on Monday.

The changes would give more power to the Commission for confiscation of property of the corrupt people and those who fail to submit their wealth statements.

The process is underway to bring about radical changes soon in the Emergency Power Rules, 2007 to make it more stringent and provide the ACC with some specific powers to deal with the corrupt people, media report said.

Amendments would ensure more specific time frame for submitting charge-sheets and quick trial and making corruption cases a non-bailable offence.

Changes planned in the ACC Act, 2004 would provide the Commission more powers, including confiscation of property of inheritors to the corrupts. "ACC Commissioner Habibur Rahman is looking into the matters, the UNB quoted a source as saying on Monday.

The caretaker government has launched a massive anti- corruption drive in the country to enforce political reforms before it announces a date for a free and fair parliamentary elections.