Dhaka - The military-backed interim government in Bangladesh appointed a three-member Truth and Accountability Commission Thursday as a landmark step to check corruption in high places in one of the world's poorest countries.

The commission, headed by a retired chief justice of the country's Supreme Court, Habibur Rahman, is to deal with tax amnesty issues and curb evasion by high-profile corruption suspects.

A government spokesperson said the truth commission started functioning immediately after the official announcement.

The other two members of the commission are former comptroller and auditor general Asif Ali and retired army major general Manzur Rashid Chowdhury. (dpa)