In a renewed pledge, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Iqbal Mahmood on Monday vowed that illegally amassed properties, whether at home or abroad, would not let anybody enjoy. The Anti-graft body boss came up with the remark during the inaugural function of the International Anti-Corruption Day in front of the ACC headquarters at Segunbagicha in capital Dhaka.
Replying to a question, the ACC Chairman said, “Corrupt people do not own the properties amassed illegally, rather the people of the country are the owners of those properties.” The ACC Chairman also said that without any coordinated initiative, reduction of corruption is not possible by the government or by any organisation alone.
He urged all the people to come together to fight against the corruption and corrupts. On the occasion of the International Anti-Corruption Day, the ACC arranged various programmes, participated by different organisations.. The International Anti-Corruption Day was also observed across the world to raise voice against the growing culture of corruption. This year’s theme is ‘United Against Corruption’.
In a message, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the people to continue to work on innovative solutions to win the battle against corruption. According to UN, every year $1 trillion is paid in bribes while an estimated $2.6 trillion are stolen annually through corruption – a sum equivalent to more than 5 percent of the global GDP.
In developing countries, according to the United Nations Development Programme, funds lost to corruption are estimated at 10 times the amount of official development assistance, according to UN. On October 31, 2003, the General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention against corruption and designated the office of the Secretary General of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as the secretariat for the Convention’s Conference of States Parties.
The Assembly also fixed December 9 as International Anti-Corruption Day to raise awareness against corruption and of the role of the Convention in combating and preventing it. The Convention entered into force in December 2005.
