Graft allegations against incumbents hard to probe: ACC chief

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Iqbal Mahmood today said the graft allegations against high-ups in the administration are difficult to be probed when they remain in posts.

“When a high official commits corruption, he or she keeps the file secret under their possession. It is difficult to bring them to book by unearthing the file based on mass media reports,” the ACC chairman observed while responding to a questioner.

He was exchanging views on the ongoing activities of the ACC’s Five-year Strategy with reporters at his Segunbagicha headquarters in Dhaka.

Responding to another query, the ACC boss said the government and its different ministries are extending their all-out cooperation to the anti-graft body for bringing dynamism in its activities.

The ACC chairman assured that the commission will remain beside the journalists when they will be given threats for publishing news on corruption.

“If anyone threats you (journalists) for publishing report on corruption, I will protect you at any cost,” said ACC Chairman Iqbal Mahmood.

‘No compromise with hoarders’

The ACC chairman reiterated his stance he would not compromise with the illegal food hoarders and said there is a process for food storage but a section of traders with the help of officials of the food department has created an artificial crisis in the market by hoarding rice illegally.