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The conviction rate in graft cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) increased in the first six months of the current calendar year compared to that of the same period in 2018.
The conviction rate in graft cases lodged by the anti-graft watchdog fell last year after a steady rise in the previous three years.
The conviction rate increased by 3.95 per cent to 63.77 per cent during the January-June period this year from 59.82 per cent during the same period of the previous year, according to the ACC data.
The punishment rate came down to 60.64 per cent last year from 67.93 per cent in 2017. It was 54.20 per cent in 2016 and 37 per cent in 2015, according to ACC sources.
Some 2,829 graft cases were under trial while 273 cases stayed by the High Court (HC) and 88 people were convicted in the first six months of this year.
Besides, 50 people were acquitted and 138 cases disposed of during the same period, the ACC data showed.
On the other hand, 2,744 cases were under trial, 316 cases stayed by the HC and 67 people were convicted in the first six months of the previous year.
Apart from this, 45 people were acquitted and 112 cases settled during the same time.
The number of graft cases under trial stood at 2,832 last year. Of them, 338 were filed with now-defunct Bureau of Anti-Corruption (BAC).
ACC's senior prosecutor Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan said the conviction rate increased due to speedy trial. "As the trial courts got credible evidence against the accused, the rate of conviction shows an upward trend," he told the FE.
The High Court also disposed of a good number of cases which were stayed earlier that may be another reason, Mr. Khan added.
The commission should put more emphasis on raising the conviction rate in those cases as it was not at satisfactory level now, the Supreme Court lawyer said.
He laid emphasis on enhancing expertise and efficiency of ACC prosecutors and investigators to this end.
In February this year, ACC chairman Iqbal Mahmood said relentless efforts were being made to enhance the efficiency of investigation officers and prosecution with giving them necessary training at home and abroad as "it is closely interrelated with trial proceedings".
Talking to the FE, Dr Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), said the rise in the conviction rate is encouraging.
"The conviction rate is only a partial reflection of the extent to which such successes are able to send a signal to the society that ACC has succeeded in truly curbing corruption, especially that of the "big fish" who are widely believed to be enjoying impunity," he said.
The people expect that compared to the cases of petty and low level corruption, ACC would attach priority to allegations of corruption irrespective of identity and status of the individuals, political, governmental or otherwise, Dr Iftekharuzzaman said.
The law and highest-level political pronouncement, especially in past several months, had given the ACC the mandate to do so. "It now needs skills, courage and determination to deliver more convictions of allegedly corrupt individuals at higher levels," he added.