Taking part in a seminar on 'Corruption in Bangladesh' at Radius Centre in Gulshan, they suggested bringing reforms to the existing laws, judicial system and the system followed by the state machineries.

The seminar was organised by the Weekly Holiday.

Chairman of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Lt Gen (Retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury urged all to join the ongoing war against corruption, observing that corruption became a life-threatening disease in the country. It is high time to prevent corruption, he added.

New Age Editor Nurul Kabir said the ACC has so far caught mainly politicians, while the civil and military bureaucrats, believed to be corrupt, are yet to be touched.

He also criticised the extra-judicial killings.

"The ACC enjoys public support but its success is still zero," said health expert Zafarullah Chowdhury.

A mandatory provision may be made for disclosure of wealth statements for any person at the time of his/her joining any service, he suggested.

"We are confused about the ACC's mandate, as we observe different agencies including ACC, taskforces and coordination committee are working against corruption and one is making lists, one is publishing it and another is investigating," said New Age Publisher Shahidullah Khan Badal.

A number of businessmen, including Managing Director of Square Group Anjan Chowdhury, Fida-E Dastagir, Salahuddin Imam, Waliur Rahman, Aziz Khan of Summit Group and BGMEA President Anwar Pervez, said the ACC should not publish any list of corrupt suspects without being confirmed of the allegations against them.

Former adviser to caretaker government Syed Manzur Elahi said as the leaders of the nation are totally failed, the nation now hopes that proper leaderships will be elected in the next general elections and they will be able to ensure an environment free from corruption.

Although it is difficult to prove graft charges, exemplary punishment should be ensured for corrupts as a short-term programme, he added.

Attorney General Fida M Kamal suggested that the ACC should target the institutional corruptions under its short-term programmes against corruption.

Former adviser to the caretaker government Sultana Kamal, Editor and Publisher of The Daily Star Mahfuz Anam, South East University Vice-chancellor Dr M Shamsher Ali, educationist Yasmeen Murshed, lawyer Azmalul Hossain, Independent University Vice-chancellor Bazlul Mobin Chowdhury and Managing Director of Holiday Publications Limited Tawhid Samad also spoke at the seminar.

Holiday Editor Syed Kamaluddin moderated the seminar.

Citing the example of Chittagong port, they said the scenario has changed dramatically in the port with the change of the system.