The country’s apex trade body, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), yesterday welcomed the government’s decision to form the Truth Commission.

“We welcome the concept of Truth Commission, as it will be a realistic measure to treat the corrupt who were bound to do corruption,” FBCCI President Mir Nasir Hossain told reporters after a press conference on 2nd Dhaka International Mobile Phone Fair 2007 at the chamber’s conference room in the capital.

He said Truth Commission is not a new concept adding that many countries including South Africa, South Korea and Sri Lanka have such commissions, which have already fined many big businessmen.

The government last week decided to set up a Truth Commission to have confessions from businessmen accused of corruption with an aim to settle the charges against them without putting them on trial.

The FBCCI chief said corruption spread massively during the previous political governments. “We topped the list of corrupt countries for six consecutive years which was disgraceful for the nation,” he said.

During that period, a group was compelled to do corruption while another quarter did it for greediness, he said adding, “In the greed-driven corruption, there was a nexus among the politicians, businessmen and bureaucrats.”

He urged the government to conduct the ongoing anti-corruption drive in a way so that it does not hinder the country’s economic growth.

“We want to have an environment in the country in which people will fear to indulge in corruption,” the FBCCI president said.