Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding with Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) to cooperate and jointly fight corruption in Bangladesh.

ACC Director General Dr M Shamsul Arefin and TIB Executive Director Dr M Iftekharuzzaman signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides at the ACC conference room in the capital.

ACC Chairman M Badiuzzaman and commissioners M Shahabuddin and Dr M Nasir Uddin Ahmed spoke with ACC Secretary M Maksudul Hasan Khan in the chair.

Under the two-year agreement, the ACC and TIB will cooperate to conduct joint advocacy programmes, research and prevention activities aiming to create awareness among people about the adverse impacts of corruption.

ACC and TIB will set a focal point on behalf of the two to conduct trainings and other activities. If any unwanted situation emerges in conducting these activities, the two will consult each other to resolve the problem.

Badiuzzaman said not only Bangladesh but also other countries have given more emphasis on prevention of corruption and if the ACC and TIB work together to, general people would be more aware about the bad practice of graft.

"If corruption is prevented, it will be easy to keep it in check...we have already started holding public hearings and getting overwhelming response from general people. So, we will hold more public hearings in the coming days," he added.

Iftekharuzzaman said TIB would help ACC conduct research activities and campaign programmes so that it can effectively check graft in the country.