New ACC may be formed anytime, names in discussion

The process of appointing a new chairman and commissioners to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has reached its final stage, with the new commission likely to be formed at any time as the names of several former and serving bureaucrats, judges and police officials are being discussed for the posts.
An ACC source told the Daily Sun that discussions over potential candidates have intensified as the five-member search committee has advanced its work. However, no final decision has yet been made on who will be appointed chairman or commissioner.
Among the names being discussed are former Appellate Division judge Justice AKM Asaduzzaman, former Additional Inspector General of Police and former Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief Md Sibgat Ullah, Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) Director General (Secretary) Kazi Emdadul Hoque, former Cabinet Secretary ASM Abdul Halim, Senior District and Sessions Judge Md Nurul Islam, former secretary Zakir Hossain Kamal and Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar.
The name of incumbent Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani is also reportedly being discussed.

Search committee formed
The government formed the five-member search committee on 22 June to select the ACC chairman and commissioners.
The committee is headed by Appellate Division Justice Md Rezaul Haque. Its other members are High Court Division Justice Razik-Al-Jalil, the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Bangladesh Public Service Commission chairman and the Cabinet Secretary.
The committee invited applications and CVs from eligible candidates for the posts, with the deadline set at 4pm on 13 July.
Under the law, the committee will recommend two candidates for each vacant post to the President, from whom the new chairman and commissioners will be appointed.

Judges, bureaucrats among contenders
Sources familiar with the process said experienced officials from the judiciary, administration and law enforcement agencies have emerged prominently among those being considered.
Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Senior District and Sessions Judge Md Nurul Islam are among the judicial figures whose names are being discussed.
Former Additional IGP and former CID chief Md Sibgat Ullah is also being considered, with his experience in criminal investigation and intelligence activities making him a potential candidate for commissioner, sources said.
The names of several former and serving administration cadre officials are also being discussed, including Kazi Emdadul Hoque, ASM Abdul Halim, Zakir Hossain Kamal and ABM Abdus Sattar.
Neither the government nor the search committee, however, has officially disclosed any list of potential candidates.


Nasimul Ghani’s tenure in focus
The tenure of Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani has also become a subject of discussion in connection with the formation of the new commission.
According to sources, his current tenure is scheduled to end on 17 August, with discussions in administrative circles that a new Cabinet Secretary may take charge on 18 August.
Against this backdrop, questions have arisen over his role as secretary to the ACC search committee while his name is also being mentioned as a possible commissioner.
No official statement has been made on whether his name is on the final shortlist or whether he is actually being considered for the post.

Speculation over Zakir Hossain Kamal
Former secretary Zakir Hossain Kamal is another name being discussed in different quarters.
According to a source, although the government appointed him chairman of the Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation (BFIDC), he did not join the post. His next assignment has since been a subject of discussion in administrative circles.
His emergence as a possible ACC commissioner has renewed interest in his future role.

Commission vacant for over five months
The formation of the new ACC commission has been pending for more than five months. The formal process began on 22 June, 110 days after the posts of chairman and commissioners fell vacant.
The prolonged absence of a commission had raised concerns over the ACC’s ability to carry out its full functions. Although some regular inquiry, investigation and case-related activities continued, difficulties arose in matters requiring approval or policy decisions from the commission.
The formation of a new commission is therefore seen as important not only as an administrative appointment but also for restoring the anti-graft agency’s full-fledged operations and giving fresh momentum to inquiries and investigations into major corruption allegations.

Decision rests with President
The search committee will recommend two names for each vacant post, after which the new chairman and commissioners will be appointed with the approval of the President. 
A meeting of the search committee was held on Wednesday, but details were not immediately available. Asked about the meeting, committee member Justice Razik-Al-Jalil told the Daily Sun, “You will know about the next process tomorrow (Thursday).”
Asked what had happened at Wednesday’s meeting, he said, “Let’s see. I will be able to tell you tomorrow.” ACC Secretary Md Saidur Rahman Khan expressed hope that the new commission would be formed soon.
He said, “As there is no commission, it is currently not possible for the ACC to take formal action regarding various complaints it receives.”
Sources said the search committee’s work is now nearing completion and an official announcement on the new ACC commission could come at any time.