US Ambassador to Bangladesh James F Moriarty has said the other day that his country wants to see the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) work independently remaining free from any control. Earlier he had a meeting with ACC Chairman Ghulam Rahman at his office. The US envoy told a questioner, it will not be good for the people, if such amendment of the law restricting the powers of the ACC is brought.

Early this month the Chief of the Anti-Corruption Commission Golam Rahman told the press that the ACC which pursued high-level corruption cases during the period of emergency, cannot now function properly due to weaknesses in the legal process where he called for reforms. The ACC Chairman observed that the corrupt would get away if judges do not apply 'Damocles' sword' during the trial process. He observed that ACC has now turned into a "toothless tiger" for its weak legal weapons to fight in trial process.

While the ACC chief was expressing his pessimism about the effectiveness of the anti-graft body he heads, news stories have appeared in the media about the government’s reported move to amend the ACC law to make initiation of cases against government servants by the commission subject to permission from the Prime Minister’s office. The former bureaucrat was appointed to this position only a few months ago. The US envoy’s observation about his country’s preference to see the ACC function as an independent body can be seen as a booster to the ACC chief’s morale who has been expressing pessimism about the commission’s ability to contain corruption.

The ACC has been formed as an independent body to help prevent graft and ensure punishment of those involved in corruption. The ACC law itself empowers the commission to pursue graft cases. The commission was expected to be more effective than the erstwhile Anti-Corruption Bureau which was dependent on government clearances to pursue cases. Although the Bureau was never effective in the true sense of the term because of the political influences, nevertheless it was dreaded as a body which can take corrupts to the doc and charge them with graft.

The ACC, on the other hand, can and has actually taken initiatives during the period of emergency on its own. And there is no visible reason why it could not remain effective after the restoration of democracy. The legal process, as the ACC chief has demanded, may need to be strengthened to bring desired results in the cases initiated by the commission at the quickest possible time. However, till such time as this happens ACC could have acted within the legal powers that it had already been entrusted with. Although there has been talk about curbing the powers of the ACC in dealing with graft by government officials - a move that may strengthen the government’s grip on government officials - such a legislation has not yet been initiated. Whether US envoy James F Moriarty’s words of support will enhance the morale of the ACC is to be seen. Otherwise ACC will have no justification to maintain its

-New Nation