Truth Commission to extract truth out of businessmen in B'desh

Dhaka, Oct 4 (UNI) The Bangladeshi Government will set up a 'Truth Commission' in such a fashion that businessmen accused of corruption could make confession.

Speaking to mediapersons at the information ministry, Law Adviser Mainul Hosein said, ''Businessmen have been repeatedly saying they are in panic, they cannot get involved in their businesses as per their expectation. Going before the Truth Commission, they will admit to acquiring wealth through dishonest means and will say: 'Fine us or take away our illegally-earned wealth','' the Daily Star quoted him.

This move of the government comes with the aim of settling the charges against these businessmen, without having to put them to trial.

The commission will be a tool for ''plea bargain'', an agreement where a defendant agrees to plead guilty or no contest in exchange for a settlement from the prosecution regarding the punishment.This will reduce the time for disposal of a case and government expenditure required for keeping the accused in prisons and prosecution of the cases.

Mr Hosein also said yesterday the government is working on enacting a law to give legal cover to the commission.

''Since this government's prime objective is to ensure democracy and good governance through elections, we cannot deal all types of corruption the same way.'' Commenting on the prime importance of businessmen for the economy, he said the country will face a big problem if the businessmen stop their businesses. It is not possible to create businessmen overnight," he said.

He said by dealing with businessmen in a different way, the government is not sparing them of the corruption charges against them.

Noting the prevalence of corruption in the country, he said ''When businessmen had to run business amidst a reign of corruption, many might have been involved in corruption against their will. If the state machinery, the ministers, political leaders and government employees are honest, businessmen cannot get the chance to resort to corruption.

UNI