ACC ordinance approved: Officials must submit asset declarations, publish 6-month activity reports as state institute
The Advisers Council approved drafts of four ordinances at its weekly meeting, chaired by CA Yunus
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) officials, directly engaged in combating corruption, will now be required to submit separate statements of their personal assets, while the institution must publish updates on its activities every six months on its website, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said today (27 November).
Speaking at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, he said the interim government had formed a reform commission to strengthen the ACC and reduce corruption. "The commission made several recommendations, based on which the ordinance to amend the ACC act has been approved," he added.
The Advisory Council of the interim government, headed by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, gave final approval to the draft of the Anti-Corruption Commission Ordinance (Amendment) 2025 during a meeting at the Chief Adviser's Office in Tejgaon today.
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Three other ordinances were also approved: the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants Ordinance 2025, the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) Ordinance 2025, and the National Human Rights Commission Ordinance 2025.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Shafiqul Alam said the restructured ACC will now be a five-member commission, which must include a member with expertise in information technology, reflecting the rise of technology-enabled crimes as the country becomes increasingly cashless.
At least one woman will also serve on the commission, according to the press secretary.
He mentioned that the reform commission's proposal to form a "selection committee" had been dropped, although it appeared in the initial draft of the amendment.
Speaking about the anti–human trafficking ordinance, the press secretary said, "Human trafficking happens in Bangladesh. Many people are deceived and taken abroad in exchange for money. Others are trafficked for the organ trade. Online platforms are also being used for trafficking."
He said victims are often pressured into out-of-court settlements after cases surface. "The ordinance aims to prevent such crimes and ensure justice for victims," he added.
On the Rajuk ordinance, Shafiqul highlighted provisions to protect playgrounds and regulate unsafe construction.
He said multistorey buildings are now being built even in rural areas, at a time when earthquakes and fire incidents are becoming more frequent.
The chief adviser has instructed the housing and public works ministry to examine whether an independent national body should be established to issue building construction approvals across the country.
Additionally, no building approval within Rajuk's jurisdiction can be issued by union parishads, he said.
He cited the example of the Milestone School building—damaged in an air crash—whose construction had reportedly been approved by a union parishad instead of Rajuk.
The new ordinance includes punitive measures for constructing buildings in violation of Rajuk-approved designs, he added.
