ACC fails to gain trust of common people

THE 11 ACC officials whose faulty and biased investigation led to wrongful imprisonment of Jaha Alam for three years have been promoted to senior ranks. Even the Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ACC) own investigation acknowledged that Jaha Alam had to lose three years of his life in prison because these officials “erroneously incriminated” him in over two dozen money laundering cases involving Tk 18.5 crore. The wrongdoers’ promotion took effect on January 24 while Jaha Alam, a jute mill worker from Tangail, got released on February 4 after serving three years in Kashimpur jail.
Surprisingly, during the investigation, none of these officials visited Jaha Alam’s house to confirm his identity, the report said, adding that some bank officials and introducers of one Abu Salek’s bank accounts misled the investigators. But it is the duty of the investigation officials to unearth the truth and present it before the court. There is no scope for shifting this duty to bank officials or someone else. Under Section 40 of the ACC Service Rule of 2008, these officials could face several penalties, including demotion, postponement of their promotion, forced retirement and even termination. But they are now rewarded.
The Jaha Alam case came to light in February 2018 after a private television ran a report and he was finally released following an HC order. The whole saga began in September 2010, when a money laundering case was filed with the Motijheel police against one Abu Salek and his associates over misappropriation of Tk 18.5 crore from Sonali Bank’s Cantonment branch.
We must say, the ACC has set a bad example elevating these officials to higher positions. Although it was part of their job to get regular promotion, they should have to clear themselves from such an allegation of wrongdoing. Misconduct, flawed investigation, taking bribe from accused and other irregularities are very common in the ACC, for which this organisation has lost trust of the common people. They know it’s easy for corrupts to get a clean chit from ACC in exchange of money. In fact, ACC’s most prioritised work is now to save the corrupts.