Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Secretary General Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has issued the following statement on 19 July 2019 condemning the controversial remark of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Iqbal Mahmud as he has said that “if government officials commit any mistake in good faith then it will not be considered as crime”.

While addressing the DCs conference at the Secretariat in the capital on 18 July, ACC chairman stated that “if government officials commit any mistake in good faith then it will not be considered as crime.” It is completely an unlawful, unethical and unjust comment. ACC chairman cannot make such statement. He has no authority to deliver such an unacceptable remark.

Committing corruption is a severe crime. But ACC chairman tried to defend it which would encourage the corrupt officials to commit same offence repeatedly. The entire nation is being submerged by corruption. Most of the government officials are involved with corruption and other irregularities. Under such circumstances, this remark is genuinely inflammatory. The ACC boss actually tried to indulge the corrupted officials. The countrymen are shocked and aggrieved at his comment. People started thinking about his purposes behind making such comment. His remark has tarnished the image of the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Holding a constitutional post, he has made an unconstitutional and unlawful comment and lost his credibility to continue his office. I am urging the concerned authorities to consider this issue seriously.