DHAKA: The government is going to enact a new law to protect government officials who will tip the information about corruption, an all-upsetting vice that had earned the country bad repute in international ratings five times in the past.

With the enactment of the law, punitive actions cannot be taken against or identities of the officials concerned cannot be disclosed.
 
The draft ‘Whistleblower Protection Act 2010’ would be placed at the cabinet meeting Monday for its approval in principle, Law Minister Barrister Shafiq Ahmed told banglanews24.com.bd.

“There is possibility of falling victim of harassment in government offices if anyone discloses the names of high officials. The person gets punishment in many ways. That is why we are enacting the law to protect them,” Shafiq Ahmed said.

According to the proposed law, identity of any individual who spills the beans about corruption would not be disclosed without his/her consent. No criminal or civil or departmental case could be filed against the informant.

In the case of a service-holder, the information provider could not be downgraded, given posting or forced retirement for harassment.

Information about corruption can be sent to the higher authority through email or in writing.

But, there is no provision for revealing the information before mass media or people concerned.

“There is a possibly to flash out the name of the information provider if the person discloses it before the media,” the Law Minister said, explaining the anti-graft combat strategies.

According to the draft law, the information would be revealed to the ‘proper authority’ and the proper authority means the head of any organization, head of department under any organsiation and head of directorate and division and divisional, district, upazila and union-level offices.

Besides, information about the constitutional post holders could be disclosed to the President, about MPs to the Speaker, members of the Judiciary to the Registrar of the Supreme Court, about government finance department to the Comptroller and Auditor General and in the matters relating to illegal and unethical works the information could be disclosed to the police.

Institute of Governance Studies (IGS), a research institute of BRAC University, in its recommendations said the objectives of enacting the law would not prove successful in absence of the provision for disclosing information to the media.

The think-tank also thinks that the ‘proper authority’ defined by the act could be corrupt.

BDST : 2051 HRS. SEPT 03, 2010