Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Dr Mohammad Abdul Momen on Sunday said he does not want to see individuals who own assets not disclosed in their election affidavits as future rulers of the country.

He made the remarks while responding to a question at the founding anniversary programme of Reporters Against Corruption (RAC), the association of journalists covering the ACC beat.

The programme was presided over by RAC President Shafi Uddin Ahmed and conducted by its General Secretary Tabarul Haque. ACC Commissioner Mian Muhammad Ali Akbar Azizi, Brigadier General (retd) Hafiz Ahsan Farid and Secretary Mohammad Khaled Rahim were also present.

Referring to the 2008 general election, the ACC chairman said, “Let me remind you that there was a significant discrepancy between the asset information disclosed in the affidavit submitted by then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the actual assets later found. Had the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Election Commission functioned properly at that time, her candidacy should have been cancelled; but that did not happen.”

Seeking journalists’ cooperation in verifying the information submitted with nomination papers, Dr Abdul Momen said it is difficult for the ACC to conduct such detailed scrutiny within a limited timeframe.

“If you have any suspicion regarding an individual’s assets, please provide that information to us first. You are investigators yourselves. Conduct investigations and assist us. We do not want those who own undisclosed assets to come to power in the future,” he added.

Expressing his expectations regarding the country’s future, the ACC chairman said ensuring good governance and justice for all remains the commission’s goal.

“To build a just and fair state, eradication of corruption is essential. We expect that those who will govern in the future must be righteous and committed to justice,” he said.