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Transparency International Bangladesh on Wednesday expressed concern and criticised the government for approving the draft Anti-Corruption Commission (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 in principle by excluding key strategic recommendations from the ACC Reform Commission.

The organisation, in a statement, said that the new ordinance must incorporate the recommendations outlined in the reform commission’s report to ensure that the anti-graft body becomes a truly independent and effective institution, capable of functioning properly and restoring public trust.

The statement from TIB came six days after the council of advisers October 23 approval in principle of the draft ACC (amendment) ordinance 2025.

In the statement, TIB executive director Iftekharuzzaman said, ‘The draft ordinance is a somewhat an improved version of the existing law, and it reflects some of the Reform Commission’s recommendations.’

However, it is disappointing that several strategically important recommendations have been omitted or disregarded, he said.

‘To ensure transparency in the appointment process of the commissioners and accountability in the performance of the commission, the Reform Commission proposed forming a ‘Selection and Review Committee,’ he said.

The government has rejected the review portion, which would have allowed periodic review of the ACC’s performance, he said.

ACC has long been used as a tool to harass opponents and defend the ruling party, and this indicates that the government does not want to change the practices, he added.

Although the drafting of this ordinance initially created some hope, in reality, it has only intensified concern and disappointment, he said.

Iftekharuzzaman said, ‘In the draft, the authority to nominate the opposition representative to the Selection Committee has been shifted unjustifiably from the leader of the opposition to the speaker of parliament—an act that serves no purpose other than to strengthen ruling party influence.’

‘The Reform Commission also suggested that the chief justice would choose one Bangladeshi citizen who is an expert in fighting corruption and good governance to be a member of the committee. This job has now been given to the president,’ he said.

The government has also removed the provision for publishing the names of shortlisted candidates, thereby rejecting an opportunity to ensure transparency in the appointment process, he added.

Iftekharuzzaman said that the ACC Reform Commission report suggested that the commissioners should be chosen from people with at least 15 years of experience in areas like law, education, administration, the judiciary, and anti-corruption efforts. But the draft ordinance has set this requirement at 25 years.

Apart from this, the suggestion to raise the number of commissioners from three to five has been overlooked, which is unfortunate, he said.

He said that the omitted recommendations had the support of almost all political parties, and both the government and the ACC are aware of that. ‘Despite this, the government has arbitrarily dismissed these provisions.’

‘For a government tasked with reform, this is a disappointing, contradictory, and anti-reform precedent,’ he added.