When someone threatens to root out the corruption it is not possible to do it with bluffs. Our big corruption stays up at the top of the tree protected by the law. The Anti-Corruption Commission cannot even investigate corruption in highups in the government without permission from the Prime Minister.
In other civilised countries the Prime Minister cannot stop investigation against him or her not to speak of protecting corruption in other high places.
The question of uprooting corruption is not possible because the corruption at the top of tree must be protected. There is corruption from top to bottom.
For the past few days the newspapers are full of stories about the chain of corruption involving Shahed Karim-owner of two Regent Hospitals at Uttara and Mirpur which he had dedicated with ill motive for treatment of Coronavirus patients free of cost. Now it is revealed that these were not hospitals but centres for extorting money in various ways
including supplying girls to top level people including political leaders and bureaucrats.
It’s not the end! Another one, named Shahidul Islam Papul, established himself as a lawmaker in this country getting patronisation from ruling party and got involved in the illegal business of human trafficking. Only minister level people know what other crimes he was committing for becoming fabulously rich. He has so much money that he bribed the powerful officials in Kuwait. He is now in the jail of Kuwait after CID busted the crime network.
With his power of corruption not only he but his wife also acquired the reputation of publicising themselves as MPs. The important position he held in Kuwait must have been due to his high level contacts in Bangladesh government.
Meanwhile the arrest and trial of a Bangladeshi Shahidul Islam in Kuwait on charges of human trafficking, money laundering and bribery has seriously exposed the dirty side of Bangladesh’s politics among those known to be MPs.
However, thanks to special police and RAB for courageously moving against the network of corruption which was involved in issuing false certificates about who are out of danger by not being affected by coronavirus. After knowing this who will believe crime is an offence in Bangladesh?
The DG of Health Services signed the MoU with Shahed Karim which the health minister and secretary attended. Investigators earlier found that the two hospitals have no working license and yet the MoU was signed giving permission for Covid patients’ treatment.
These hospitals have issued 6,000 fake corona testing certificates claiming reimbursement of bills from the government. From this only he earned crores of taka. Then there were other corrupt activities he undoubtedly carried out under the protection of the government.
A fair investigation will no doubt reveal many others involved. How will the minister deny knowledge about the Regent Hospital owner when he was very much present in signing of the deal? Now any attempt to distance him does not make sense.
The minister almost regularly does not attend office but he was present at the signing. Police are not finding Shahed now while speculations abound that he may have left the country with support from powerful quarters. We shall see the truth of that statement.
Similarly arrest of Dr Sabrina, a physician of National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, in a scam involving issuance of about 15,000 fake coronavirus certificates has come as yet another shock. Her husband and JKG Chief Executive Officer Ariful Chowdhury and four others were also arrested for running false certificate business.
We urge and appeal that at least the government should not be friends of mafias. The allegations are that all the past health ministers established a protected corruption business.
The present minister is following the path prepared by his predecessors. There is hardly any ministry where corruption is not a safe game. One thing we are sure is that big corruption will not remain secret, it is a question of time.
The law enforcing agencies must help the people by not allowing the big and renowned thieves to leave the country whether there are actual cases against them or not. Our information is they are looking for opportunities to escape to enjoy their illegal money luxuriously.
The people are going through a very hard time with getting little help from the government. It is time for each of us to show our love for the people.
