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The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) proposed to deploy a number of its officials at the audit and accounts offices under the Comptroller of Auditor General (CAG) and Comptroller General of Accounts (CGA) during the month of June to oversee their routine activities.
The ACC set the month of June as the target period because during this month massive irregularities occur in these organisations that include wholesale illegal pay-offs.
Commissioner of the ACC M Moniruzzaman Mian proposed this at an exchange of views programme with the high officials of the audit and accounts department Monday.
It was held at the conference room of the Financial Management Academy (FIMA) in the city.
CAG Asif Ali presided over it, while CGA Rezauddin M Chowdhury and other high officials of the anti-graft body and the audit and accounts department attended it.
Moniruzzaman said that the existing pension procedures should be reviewed in order to eliminate the hassles often faced by retired government officials and employees.
"A committee comprising four officers - two from the CAG and two from the ACC should be formed to study the rules regarding pension benefits and straighten those so that people get all due benefits within 90 days of retirement from service", he suggested.
He also said that unnecessary harassment meted out to such public servants on flimsy grounds must be declared as punishable criminal offences.
Referring to wholesale corruption at the accounts offices, especially at district and Upazila levels, he said that a strong and effective monitoring cell at the CAG and the CGA offices should be established to contain such practices.
Citing gross violation of rules by accounts offices, he said that circulars from the ministries should be served to all their subordinate offices cautioning them that the CAG and the CGA offices will not entertain any bill for payment if appropriate financial rules are not met.
He said that some 1.05 million audit objections remained unanswered for long.
"Penal provision for unmet audit objections may be considered. If the CAG wants the cooperation of ACC, a joint study programme to devise ways and means to that end can be carried out", he added.
Highlighting the role of automation and e-governance in curbing corruption, he said that the CGA and other offices under it should be equipped with computers and the department should launch a website for providing required information to the public.
CAG Asif Ali said that sustainable measures should be undertaken for minimising the harassment of people, especially the retired persons.
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