Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Monday told Parliament that a search committee will be formed anytime to recommend names for reconstituting the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), expressing optimism that a stronger anti-graft body will be established.
"Maybe you think the government is not sincere. However, the government is truly sincere. A search committee will be formed to constitute the Anti-Corruption Commission,” he said.
The home minister said this while speaking during the discussion on the cut-motions over additional demands for the ACC in the supplementary budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year in the House.
He said the Chief Justice on Sunday sent the name of his representative for the search committee, clearing the way for its formation. “Now, the search committee will be formed," he said.
Salahuddin said a strong ACC will be established with a chairman and commissioners through the search committee.
He said though an ordinance related to the ACC, which was promulgated during the interim government, was not ratified by current Parliament, the earlier law had been revived, which also includes provisions for a search committee.
The minister further said the current arrangement is an interim step and that a more powerful ACC will be formed once the proposed ACC Bill is passed in Parliament.
Responding to the remarks made by independent lawmaker Rumeen Farhana, he said corruption is widespread across society, but the politicians are blamed for all faults.
In most cases, politicians have to sign off on the final stage of files, so they are blamed for all irregularities, Salahuddin said.
Earlier in her speech, Rumeen Farhana criticised the ACC’s effectiveness, alleging that corruption remains deeply entrenched in the country and questioning the political will to strengthen the commission.
Noting that bureaucracy and politics are top most corrupt professions in Bangladesh, she said, “Politics generates money, which is probably only possible in a country like Bangladesh.”
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Md Shafiqul Islam also expressed concern over the independence of the ACC, saying political and administrative influence continues to affect its functioning.