Anti-Corruption Commission shouldn’t be a toothless tiger: High Court
A writ petition was filed earlier, seeking HC directive to retrieve laundered money
The High Court has said that rather than behave like a toothless tiger, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) must execute the power and authority bestowed on it.
The HC bench of Justices Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Mohi Uddin Shamim made this statement on Sunday during the hearing on a writ petition, seeking the court's directive to retrieve the money laundered via the Swiss bank.
The court also said, "The ACC should be concerned about bringing back the money that was confiscated via the Swiss bank."
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At the time, ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told the court, "We must be concerned. We have all the information, which I will be able to place before the court."
The writ petitioners requested the HC to ask relevant authorities of the government to take necessary measures to stop businessmen like Musa bin Shamser and others from depositing illegal money from Bangladesh to various foreign banks, especially Swiss banks.
Deputy attorney general AKM Amin Uddin Manik moved for the state, while Md Khurshid Alam Khan represented the ACC, and advocates Abdul Kaiyum Khan and Subir Nandi Das moved for the petition.
Two lawyers of the Supreme Court- Abdul Kaiyum and Subir Nandi Das – had filed the writ petition on 1 February.
They also sought a rule seeking an explanation as to why the failure and inaction of the relevant authorities to bring back the laundered money should not be declared illegal.
The petition also sought the formation of a special committee to monitor and control money laundering by Bangladeshi citizens or companies to foreign banks, including the Swiss Bank.
Some 15 people, including secretaries of finance, commerce and law ministries, prime minister's office, the attorney general, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Bangladesh Bank Governor, and Inspector General of Police (IGP) were made respondents to the writ petition.
Several media reports on money laundering were attached to the petition as supporting evidence.
The petition also seeks issuance of notice by the HC, asking the respondents to take action if they possessed any intelligence with regards to the siphoning off of money.
