Bangladeshi news media report that the country's High Court has declared the founding of the country's Truth and Accountability Commissionillegal and unconstitutional.
Judges from the court issued the ruling on Thursday following a petitionfiled in August by four rights activists. The ordinance that created the Truth and Accountability Commission allows anyone convicted on charges of corruption to receive leniency upon confessing and returning any illegal earnings.
The high court judges ruled that the formation of the commission was against the constitution. The petitioners say the commission did not have jurisdiction to punish criminal offenders.Bangladesh's interim government formed the TAC in August as a means of expediting dozens of corruption cases.
More than 170 politicians, and hundreds of others, were arrested last year as part of the major crackdown on graft in the country. Among them are former prime ministers Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina.
Matiur Rahman Chowdhury has the details.