A SHARP decline in the conviction rate in corruption cases to a worrying 47 per cent in 2024, the lowest in eight years, down from 57.18 per cent in 2023, does not only question the effectiveness of the Anti-Corruption Commission in its fight against corruption but also, perhaps, brings to the fore some inadequacies that the commission is faced with. This constitutes a slide by 10 per cent in a year, when 341 cases were disposed of. The conviction rate has also decreased by 25 per cent in four years since 2020, when the rate was 72 per cent. Besides, official data show that more than a half of the accused in corruption cases were acquitted in 2024, casting doubt on the effectiveness of the procedure of the commission, an institution of accountability that is mandated to investigate illegal wealth accumulation, bribery and the misappropriation of government fund or asset and illicit capital flow by government officials. The disposal of cases has also registered a marked decline, with only 8.65 per cent of the cases having been disposed of in 2024, down from 10.17 per cent in 2023.
The commission has also reported a significant backlog of corruption cases pending with lower courts. As of 2024, 3,410 cases 鈥� 3,066 filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission and the remaining 344 filed by its predecessor, the Bureau of Anti-Corruption, which was dissolved in 2004 鈥� are reported to have been pending. The backlog also highlights the challenges that the agency faces in dealing with corruption. Experts put the decline in the conviction rate and the growing backlog down to weak inquiry and investigation, lack of skills of public prosecutors and oversight inadequacy. A former director general for investigation of the commission says that agency sometimes approve corruption cases without proper merit or based on political considerations. He says that an absence of proper oversight and more caution in case approval could also be the reasons, pointing the finger at the inefficiency of the public prosecutors. The decline in conviction rate, as the Transparency International Bangladesh chief says, could also result from special judges courts that were meant to exclusively deal with corruption cases but are dealing with other cases, too. The commission that the interim government in mid-September instituted on anti-corruption reforms, in its report submitted on January 15, has recommended significant changes in the agency鈥檚 structure and operation, its recognition as a constitutional body and keeping the agency above any political and bureaucratic influence. Experts also stress the need for urgent reforms in the agency and the judiciary to win public trust in the government鈥檚 fight against corruption.
The commission has been heard of pulling together an independent prosecution unit, but it has not so far happened. Whilst the government should step up the effort in this direction, it should also afford the commission more teeth to effectively fight corruption. The commission should have more resources, an effective case management and specialised teams to deal with corruption that is growing at all levels. And, it should rise above political and bureaucratic influence.