Some Advisers opposed reforming ACC: Dr. Iftekharuzzaman

Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has said that at least seven Advisers in the interim government opposed reforming the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said that it is very much unfortunate. He further said that most of the recommendations of the reform commissions have not been implemented. Dr. Iftekharuzzaman made the above comments while giving an interview to News 24 a couple of days ago.

Dr. Iftekharuzzaman stated that Bangladesh interim government did some very good jobs too since taking oath on 8 August 2024 but some of the highly essential reform recommendations were not taken into cognizance. However, he admired the interim government for launching an economic white paper committee and for setting up a separate Secretariat for the judiciary.

Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said that the interim government purposefully did not work on some vital strategies recommended by certain commissions to streamline and rectify the Anti-Corruption Commission, Police Department and National Human Rights Commission. These things have disappointed patriotic people, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman added.

A faction of bureaucrats doesn't want reforms to be materialized, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman remarked. He affirmed that good governance, rule of law and justice cannot be established without effective reforms of state organs.  

He also regretted that a trend is going on to weaponize religious sentiments for gaining political mileage which undermines the values of 1971 and 2024 both.