ACC gets truncated budgetary allocation

The government has made a truncated allocation for the Anti-Corruption Commi-ssion (ACC) in the 2026�"27 financial year budget, despite unveiling a range of measures aimed at strengthening its anti-graft institutions and expanding corruption prevention activities.

Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, while presenting the national budget in the Jatiya Sangsad on Thursday, proposed an allocation of Tk 197 crore for the ACC, a-Tk 6 crore lower than the revised allocation of Tk 203 crore for the outgoing financial year-FY26. The original allocation for FY2025-26 was Tk 191 crore.

Of the allocation, Tk 187 crore has been earmarked for operational expenditure and Tk 10 crore for development activities of the ACC.

According to the budget speech, the ACC will continue carrying out its mandate under the Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2004 and relevant scheduled offences. Its activities will include filing cases, approving charge sheets and final reports, conducting investigations, prosecuting money laundering cases, managing assets linked to complaints and investigations, carrying out intelligence and enforcement operations, identifying sources of corruption, undertaking research and planning, and conducting public awareness programmes.

The government also plans to strengthen the nationwide anti-corruption framework by reconstituting 13-member metropolitan and district corruption prevention committees and nine-member upazila committees across the country. It further proposes forming and activating committees at the union level.

As part of efforts to promote ethical values among young people, support will continue for "Sata Sangha", a subsidiary initiative of corruption prevention committees operating in schools, colleges, madrasas, universities, hostels and training institutes. The budget also proposes establishing vendor-free "Sata Stores" in educational institutions to encourage integrity-based practices among students.