'People want to see law enforcers follow the law first'

Says ACC chairman

SO MUCH FOR TRAFFIC WEEK: A policeman drives his motorbike on the wrong side right down the middle of a busy road, with a pillion rider sans helmet. Pedestrians, drivers and motorcyclists on city streets are often blamed for violating traffic rules but when a law enforcer breaks the law in broad daylight, one must wonder what the recent student movement for safe roads, or the ongoing traffic week, has accomplished. The photo was taken from the Segun Bagicha area in the capital yesterday. PHOTO: AMRAN HOSSAIN

People want to see law enforcers themselves following laws, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Iqbal Mahmood said yesterday.

Speaking about the traffic chaos on the streets during a views-exchange meeting on 'Role of FM Radio in Preventing Corruption and Best Practices' organised by ACC at its Segunbagicha headquarters, he said phenomena like vehicles plying on the wrong side and jaywalking despite footbridges being present need to be stopped. “People want to see that we, who enforce laws, follow the law first,” he said.

Highlighting ACC's initiatives in ensuring rule of law, he said the commission has conducted the highest number of drives against irregularities at Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA). A number of cases have been filed and arrests have been made but still there is no end to complaints against them, the ACC chief said, adding that the commission is closely monitoring BRTA's activities.

Thousands of complaints are filed to the ACC through various media including its complaint hotline number 106, Mahmood said, adding that the commission cannot take actions against most of these because they are outside its jurisdiction. This sends a wrong message to the complainant and frustrates them, he said, seeking support of the FM radios to publicise ACC's mandate.

Among others, Shams Sumon of Radio Bhumi, Abdul Awal from People's Radio, Shoyebul Haque from Radio Today and Talat Mahmood from ABC Radio spoke at the programme.

• Courtesy: The Daily Star /Aug 14, 2018