Don't nominate corrupt people in elections: ACC chairman

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Dr. Mohammad Abdul Momen has called for avoid the nomination of corrupt individuals in the elections.

He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of a day-long workshop for Reporters Against Corruption (RAC) members at the conference room of the ACC head office in Segunbagicha in the capital on Tuesday (October 14).

Dr. Mohammad Abdul Momen said, "Every crime and corruption has a political link. It is not possible to improve the country as a whole by keeping corruption at the top level."

He said that during the Awami League regime, many influential businessmen tried to almost destroy the country through corruption. The ACC is fearlessly continuing to investigate these corruption cases.

In response to a question, the ACC chairman said, "Like other criminals, former Sheikh Hasina and her family members will be tried. If the court is kind, the trial process will be expedited further." Various legal steps, including red notices, have been taken through Interpol to bring back the fugitive corrupt officials, including Sheikh Hasina and her family members. The government is also working on this matter. However, it is a very difficult task to bring back money laundered abroad. The relevant government agencies, including the ACC, are making relentless efforts in this regard.

ACC Chairman Abdul Momen said, "Journalists work to ensure good governance in the state. Killing a journalist is tantamount to killing democracy."

At the workshop, ACC Director General (Special Investigation) Mir Md. Zainul Abedin Shibli and Director General (Training and Information Technology) Abdullah Al Zahid discussed the Anti-Corruption Commission Act-2004, Anti-Corruption Commission Rules-2007, Prevention of Corruption Act-1947, Money Laundering Act-2012, and other related laws and regulations.

At the workshop, RAC urged the commission chairman to take measures to remove all obstacles to journalists' entry into the ACC office. RAC also called for taking legal and departmental action, subject to investigation, if there is a specific allegation against an ACC official, not based on a spurious allegation.

ACC Director General (Administration) Abu Hena Mustafa Zaman, Assistant Private Secretary to the President and former General Secretary of RAC Mohammad Sagar Hossain, Senior Assistant Press Secretary to the Chief Advisor and former President of RAC Faiz Ahmed, Founding General Secretary and former President of RAC Mizan Malik, current President Alauddin Arif and General Secretary Tabarul Haque, among others were also present at the workshop.