The ACC must formulate a Prosecution Policy to clearly specify which scheduled offences it will investigate based on the severity of the offence and public interest. For other offences, the ACC will forward the complaints to the relevant police station for investigation. Section 20 of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, should be amended to empower the police to investigate complaints forwarded by the ACC. Year: 2025 Domain: Anti Corruption Case Prioritisation and Police Empowerment Status: Reform Proposed Last Update: 14-Dec-25
The current mandatory provision of pre-investigation inquiry before launching investigations for each offense listed under the ACC’s jurisdiction should be abolished. * If specific information about an offense is received in writing from a specific person, the ACC should directly file a case and initiate an investigation. * If the information or message about an offense is not received in writing from a specific person, the ACC may conduct a covert inquiry based on the importance of the information or message. Year: 2025 Domain: Anti Corruption Prosecution Prioritisation Status: Reform Proposed Last Update: 14-Dec-25
To enhance the transparency of the ACC’s JABAC, the following measures must be ensured: * Through the application of Rule 5(4) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Regulations, 2007, JABACs should be reconstituted at regular intervals (at least twice a month, if possible), and the same person should not serve in JABAC consecutively for an extended period. * No more than one deputed official can be among the three members of JABAC. Year: 2025 Domain: Anti Corruption Case Prioritisation and Police Empowerment Status: Reform Proposed Last Update: 14-Dec-25
If a specific individual or institution files a complaint with the ACC, a legal provision should be enacted to ensure that the ACC promptly informs the complainant in writing about the actions taken on the complaint (inquiry/investigation/settlement) along with the reasons. Year: 2025 Domain: Anti Corruption Judicial Infrastructure Status: Reform Proposed Last Update: 14-Dec-25
To avoid delays and to streamline complaint management, the following measures must be implemented: * The recommendations of the Complaint Scrutiny and Selection Committee (JABAC) at the district or divisional ACC offices should not be subjected to further scrutiny by the central JABAC at ACC headquarters. * For complaints related to offences below a certain level of severity (as determined by ACC guidelines), the district or divisional ACC offices should be authorised to independently take necessary actions on complaints. Year: 2025 Domain: ACC Operational Autonomy Anti Corruption Status: Reform Proposed Last Update: 14-Dec-25
The proposed “Selection and Review Committee” will review ACC activities by following these procedures: * Every six months, the ACC will prepare a performance report and submit it to the proposed Selection and Review Committee. * The format of the report will be determined by the Committee but must include: i) Number of complaints received and forwarded for investigation after initial scrutiny. ii) A brief explanation of why complaints were accepted or rejected. iii) Number of ongoing cases categorised by the nature and extent of corruption. iv) Number and types of ongoing covert investigations. v) Details of ACC’s actions regarding serious and large-scale corruption allegations reported in the media. vi) Progress report on investigations and trials related to money laundering crimes. vii) Updates on cooperation with various government and state agencies. viii) Reports on corruption prevention activities. ix) Progress on addressing internal corruption within the ACC itself. x) A description of ACC’s corruption prevention initiatives. * The Committee will organise public hearings based on the reports submitted by the ACC. * The Committee will, to the extent possible, allow participation and comments from representatives of civil society, media, and non-governmental organisations during the hearings. * After the hearings, the Committee will issue a written review report. * The Committee will ensure that the public hearings do not compromise the confidentiality of any ongoing investigation or inquiry, nor trigger discussions on specific allegations or cases. * The Committee will formulate a Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the public hearings and ensure their proper adherence. Year: 2025 Domain: Anti Corruption Merit-Based Recruitment and Internal Promotion Status: Reform Initiated Last Update: 14-Dec-25
The proposed “Selection and Review Committee” will follow the procedure outlined below to recommend names for appointment as Commissioner(s): * Publish notices in newspapers and online, inviting applications or nominations for the position of Commissioner. * Each applicant or nominee must submit a detailed declaration of the candidate’s assets and liabilities, along with a complete curriculum vitae including two referees. * From the applications and nominations received, the Committee will prepare a preliminary list of candidates who meet the qualifications for the position. The Committee may also include names of candidates of its own initiative. * Based on evaluation criteria determined by the Committee, a shortlist will be created from the preliminary list. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews. * During the interviews, the Committee will assess each candidate’s qualifications, skills, integrity, and future plan as an ACC Commissioner. * The Committee may include two experienced subject-matter experts to assist in the interview process if necessary. * Based on the interviews and assessments, the Committee will publicly announce the names of three candidates for each vacant position. * After a minimum of seven days of public disclosure, the Committee will confidentially submit the names of two candidates for each vacancy to the President. Year: 2025 Domain: Anti Corruption Leadership Recruitment and Transparency Status: Reform Initiated Last Update: 14-Dec-25
The proposed “Selection and Review Committee” should consist of seven members: 1) The senior-most Judge of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (other than the Chief Justice) who will be ex-officio Chairperson of the Committee; 2) the senior-most Judge of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court; 3) the Comptroller and Auditor General of Bangladesh; 4) the Chairperson of the Public Service Commission; 5) a nominee of the Leader of the House in Parliament; 6) a nominee of the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament; and 7) a citizen of Bangladesh with experience in anti-corruption and governance, nominated by the Chief Justice. Year: 2025 Domain: Anti Corruption Institutional Independence & Appointment Process Status: Reform Initiated Last Update: 14-Dec-25
The name of the “Selection Committee” formed under Section 7 of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, must be changed to “Selection and Review Committee.” In addition to recommending names this Committee will regularly review performance of the ACC on a half-yearly basis. Year: 2025 Domain: Anti Corruption Status: Reform Initiated Last Update: 14-Dec-25
The tenure of ACC Commissioners must be reduced from five years to four years. Year: 2025 Domain: Anti Corruption Tenure and Accountability Status: Reform Initiated Last Update: 14-Dec-25
