ACC urged to increase collaboration with intl agencies
UNB
Transparency International (TI) chair Jos Carlos Ugaz has urged the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) to strengthen collaboration with international anti-corruption agencies to effectively fight graft in Bangladesh, reports UNB.
The visiting TI chief came up with the call when he met ACC chairman Iqbal Mahmood at the Commissions head office in the capital on Monday. Ugaz said he has got an impression through media reports that the ACC is now working hard to prevent and combat corruption in the country. That is why the Commission should strengthen collaboration with international anti-graft bodies in different countries, he added.
He said the ACC can adopt widely-exercised best practices from those international anti-corruption agencies, which will help it fight the social menace here.
The TI chair assured that his organisation will provide all technical supports to the ACC to increase its capacity to fight corruption. Replying to a question from Carlos Ugaz whether the Commission faces any problem for lack of government coordination, Iqbal Mahmood said the ACC is getting money and manpower from the government as per its demand. So, he said, there is no lack of sincerity from the government side.
Noting that the Commission has some weaknesses in conducting probes into graft allegations and asset recovery, the ACC chief said if the TI extends its technical support to the Commission, this will be quite possible to overcome the weakness through extensive training.
TIB executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman, its deputy executive director Prof Sumaiya Khair and ACC director general Dr Shamsul Arefin were, among others, present at the meeting.
