Bangladesh anti-graft official quits ahead of revamp

DHAKA, Feb 11 (Reuters) The last of three top officials at Bangladesh's anti-graft commission resigned today, clearing the way for its reconstitution as part of a campaign by the army-backed interim government to clean up the administration.

Muniruddin Ahmed, a commissioner at the Anti-Corruption Commission charged with fighting graft in governance, submitted his resignation to President Iajuddin Ahmed through a messenger, officials said.

''The Anti-Corruption Commission will be reorganised soon to curb corruption in the country,'' said an official at the ministry of law, judiciary and parliamentary affairs.

Chief commissioner Sultan Hossain and commissioner Muniruzzaman Miah quit four days ago following criticism that the commission had failed to fight widespread corruption in governance.

The interim government led by former central bank chief Fakhruddin Ahmed has vowed to cleanse politics and streamline the administration ahead of national elections, for which no date has been set yet.

The election, originally set for January 22, was postponed in the wake of countrywide violence between rival political parties, in which 45 people were killed and hundreds injured.

Bangladesh declared emergency on January 11.

Nearly 100 political leaders including nine ministers have been detained by the administration over the past one week in what it says is a crackdown on corrupt politicians.

The detained politicians belong to both the Bangladesh Nationalist Party of immediate prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia and main rival, the Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina, another former prime minister.

REUTERS AB BD1359