TIB disappointed over ACC chief’s remark

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) today expressed its frustration over Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) chairman’s remark over the organisation (TIB) published in media, terming it “unnecessary and confusing”.

In a statement, the Bangladesh chapter of global corruption watchdog, TIB, said it had an impression that the ACC was aware about TIB’s work scope and activities.

However, this has been proven wrong in the ACC chairman’s comment, TIB said, adding, “In no way, TIB is “one-eyed”; its all stances, reports and statements are “objective, outcome of scientific researches, and neutral.”

TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, “TIB not only identifies deficiencies of different institutions and sectors based on lack of good governance and also analyses data related to graft. In addition, TIB also gives specific recommendations to overcome the challenges.”

“Besides, in each of TIB’s research reports, alongside prevailing challenges of related sector or institution, positive achievements are presented objectively.”

In Bangladesh, to ensure good governance and combat graft at different areas including government and non-government levels, where notable institutional, legal and policy reforms as well as positive changes were made, TIB has a direct or indirect role in almost all of these areas, he further said.

Dr Zaman said, “For anyone interested, TIB’s document of income-expenditure is open. If the ACC demonstrates any kind of doubt over TIB’s overall activities including ones related to its financial report, the ACC can easily conduct probe about TIB. We are ready to extend full support to ACC to this end.”

WHAT WAS THE ACC CHIEF’S REMARK OVER TIB?

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Iqbal Mahmood yesterday said the TIB should not be one eyed as it only knows to criticize, but it does not know how to praise positive initiatives for curbing graft, UNB reported.

“ACC always welcomes criticism, but one should first realize the reality, condition and culture before making criticism and at the same time it must find out the way to resolve the problem,” he said at the ACC’s Segunbagicha headquarters in Dhaka.