The interim government on Thursday approved a draft ordinance in principle expanding the jurisdiction of the Anti-Corruption Commission to probe graft allegations against foreign citizens residing in Bangladesh.聽聽
The draft titled 鈥楢nti-Corruption Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025鈥� was approved in a meeting of the council of advisers, chaired by the chief adviser Muhammad Yunus at his Tejgaon office.
It was passed against the backdrop of increasing allegations of graft involving foreign nationals in financial corruption.
While briefing journalists at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka after the meeting, law adviser Asif Nazrul said, 鈥楩rom now on, the ACC will be able to investigate corruption allegations against any foreign nationals residing in Bangladesh.鈥�
Asif Nazrul said that the ordinance included several important amendments and new definitions aimed at making ACC investigations 鈥榖roader and more effective.鈥�
The amended law provides a clearer definition of the term 鈥榢nown income鈥�, which previously caused confusion over whether it referred to legal or illegal income, he said.
鈥楾he ordinance now explicitly defines 鈥渒nown income鈥� as lawful income,鈥� he added.
鈥楾he ACC鈥檚 work is to fight corruption, but there have been allegations of corruption within the commission as well. This issue was discussed with utmost importance in the meeting,鈥� he said.
鈥榃e want the ACC to truly earn public trust in combating corruption,鈥� he said, adding that the chief adviser had directed the authorities to ensure a mechanism to check internal corruption.
The ACC鈥檚 powers related to inquiry, investigation, and filing of cases are being expanded to ensure it can combat corruption more effectively, he said.
The ACC was established under the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004 to fight corruption in Bangladesh.
Apart from this, the council of advisers approved a proposal聽 to change the existing harassment practices and procedures in post-allotment management of residential plots or flats developed by the Ministry of Housing and Public Works and its subordinate authorities or organisations, with the aim of simplifying services and eliminating corruption.
Besides, the establishment of a new Consulate General Office of Bangladesh in Detroit at Michigan in the United States of America was also approved in the meeting.
