Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq on Monday said Bangladesh is firmly committed to fighting corruption, as a result of which graft is getting curbed in the country day by day, reports BSS.
“…We also expect the international community would extend their full support to us in order to materialize corruption-free compliant society which was a dream of our Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” he said.
The minister came up with the observations while addressing 10th session of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) Implementation Review Group (IRG), in Vienna, Austria.
Anisul Huq is leading the Bangladesh delegation consisting senior officials from Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division, Anti-Corruption Commission, Bangladesh Bank and Vienna mission of Bangladesh.
“I would like to mention here that the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1958, The Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, the Right to Information Act, 2009, the Whistle Blower Protection Act, 2011, the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012, the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act, 2012, the Extradition Act, 1974, the Public Procurement Act, 2006 are major legal instruments in Bangladesh towards implementation of UNCAC provisions,” Anisul said.
“Apart from this, Bangladesh has established the National Human Rights Commission and the Information Commission. Bangladesh has also adopted the National Integrity Strategy (NIS) by the Cabinet Division to build up a golden prosperous corruption free society,” he added.
The law minister said Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has been implementing many programs for materializing UNCAC Chapter-II requirement relating to prevention corruption.
He further said Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has developed training programs of money laundering prevention and asset confiscation for the different agencies and officials.
“Corruption Prevention Committees have been formed by the ACC in nine metropolitan cities, 62 Districts and 421 upazillas with a view to create integrity and honesty among members of the society by massive awareness programs.
Honesty and Integrity Units have also been set up in schools, colleges and other educational institutions all over the country,” Anisul said.
The law minister lauded the organizers for arranging this 10th session of the Implementation Review Group, saying, his delegation expects that pursuant to UNCAC mandate, this session will come up with new ideas of functional review mechanism for second review cycle relating to prevention and asset recovery.