Staff Reporter:
Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Dr. Mohammad Abdul Momen yesterday said that if the ACC and the Election Commission (EC) had performed their duties properly at that time, Sheikh Hasina’s candidacy would have been cancelled in 2008 national election.
“There were significant discrepancies in the asset affidavit submitted by Awami League President Sheikh Hasina in the 9th National Election held in 2008,” he said while responding to a question at the anniver-sary program of RAC, an organization of journalists covering the ACC beat.
ACC Commissioners Mia Muhammad Ali Akbar Azizi and Brigadier General (Rtd.) Hafiz Ahsan Farid and its Secretary Mohammad Khaled Rahim were also present at the event.
The program was moderated by RAC General Secretary Tabarul Haque while the organization’s Presi-dent Shafi Uddin Ahmed was also present.
Referring to the 2008 election, the ACC chairman said, “Let me remind you that in the 2008 election, the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had provided details of her assets in her affidavit and there was a vast discrepancy between her declarations and the assets we later found in reality”.
Stating that scrutinizing affidavits within a short time is difficult, he said, “At that time, it was not pos-sible for us to work with such precision.”
Seeking journalists’ cooperation in investigating affidavits, the ACC Chairman said, “If you have doubts about the assets of any individual mentioned in an affidavit, please bring it to us first. You yourselves are investigators as well. Conduct your investigations and assist us. We do not want anyone who owns assets not disclosed in affidavits to become a ruler in the future.”
He added, “Our expectation is good governance for all and justice for all. Therefore, in order to build a state based on integrity and justice, we expect to achieve what is necessary this year. Even then, some challenges remain. Corruption is one of our major challenges. We will all remain focused on eliminating this corruption and we expect that those who govern us will be honest and upright.”
