Issuing a note of warning against corruption and irregularities, Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday said the government would not allow anyone to indulge in corruption and irregularity by using political identity.
“The Awami League government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will not tolerate any kind of corruption and irregularity . . . the ongoing drive against graft and irregularity will be continued,” he said, addressing a book unveiling function at an auditorium of Jatiya Press Club (JPC). The minister unveiled the cover of the book named ‘Bangabandhur Sara Jibon’ (The Entire Life of Bangabandhu) written by Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists’ (BFUJ) Secretary General Saban Mahmud. Hasan went on saying that the government would continue crack down on corruption as it (government) sternly deals with all sorts of corrupt practices.
He said, “I would like to congratulate our honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as she is taking actions against corrupt people without considering their political ideology.”
The minister said there are many intruders and opportunists in the party (AL) as it is in the state power for three consecutive times. “Many of them (intruders) are linked with misdeeds and they entered the party to exploit it as a political shield,” he added. “We should remain alert against intruders and opportunists . . . They are only miscreants,” said Hasan.
The minister said Bangladesh is moving forward indomitably under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to materialise the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He said the National Economic Council (NEC) on Tuesday approved the country’s second Perspective Plan for the year 2021-2041 in a bid to turn Bangladesh into a developed country by 2041.
Bangladesh has already graduated to a middle-income country from the least developing one, said Hasan, adding that the country has gained remarkable progress in many socioeconomic indexes, including human development index, and achieved GDP growth was higher than many countries in the last 11 years. The per capita income is now around 2,000 US dollars while it was only $600 in 2008, he said.
Mentioning that Bangladesh has surpassed Pakistan in all indexes and even surpassed India in many social indicators, the minister said, “It has been only possible for outstanding leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.” “Once Bangladesh faced food deficit … Despite shrinking of farm land due to rapid urbanisation and construction of different infrastructures, including houses, Bangladesh has now become a food surplus country as the present government has implemented multifaceted development schemes,” said Hasan.
The minister said Bangladesh is now a case study for the
World Food Organisation as it has become a food surplus country though the agricultural land didn’t increase even for an inch. He said Bangladesh could progress more if negative politics was not pursued by political parties, especially BNP. “BNP criticises everything done by the government, but it should acknowledge the government’s good works and development activities,” he added.
