When will the ACC start functioning?

Needless to say, adequate manning of an organisation is key to its functioning; more so, in the case of a statutory organisation like the ACC. The job of accomplishing this task cannot be an unduly lengthy process with the ACC, particularly when it was set up to contain corruption -- arguably the number one malaise plaguing governance in Bangladesh. The ACC had inducted some Bac officials in June last, but could not finalise the whole list of the staff it wanted to retain from the bureau. There was, and perhaps still is, considerable disagreement among the ACC chairman and the commissioners, and between the commissioners, on the absorption issue. It is there that the commission has had its biggest starting problem.

Even its jurisdiction and sphere of activities have apparently not been defined clearly. The point was made clear when the ACC tried to probe the case of 'missing cars' under projects financed by our development partners. Its maiden venture into the sensational case proved to be a setback, as its jurisdiction was virtually challenged by the ministries concerned. Its organogram is yet to take shape and its procedures are shaky. Little wonder, the commission switched to a less committal course of corruption prevention, as was evident when it turned its attention to the ports and the NBR.

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Importantly, the ACC has not yet finished sifting through the cases inherited from Bac so as to determine which ones amongst them they will pursue.

The way the organisation is evolving cannot but raise the question again: when will it start exercising its writ, or more precisely perhaps, when will it be enabled to get on with its mandate? The government, too, has a responsibility.