Staff Reporter :Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman has said that the Ministers for Relief and Disaster Management, and Food should resign over the corruption allegations.”If the ministers [Relief and Food Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya and Food Minister Quamrul Islam] resign, it will set an example,” he said in a press briefing at its Dhanmondi office in the city on Tuesday.He was speaking on a survey report titled “Youths’ perception of honesty.Graft allegation has also emerged recently against Food Minister Quamrul Islam in wheat import and now it is proved that the quality of wheat is not good, he said.”The Food Minister should also resign voluntarily …and if they can prove that they are clean, their popularity will increase and people will accept them again.” the TIB chief said.On the other hand, Iftekharuzzaman termed the allegation against Maya a sub-judice matter and said it is under investigation. “But we can say, it will be better if he resigns. It will set an example,” he added.On June 14, the Supreme Court dismissed a High Court verdict that acquitted Maya in a graft case of 2007.A special court on February 14, 2008, handed Maya 13 years in prison and Tk five crore in fine for amassing illegal property.The TIB executive director further said similar allegations were brought against Qamrul following the import of “substandard wheat”. So, he should also resign, he said. About the survey, he said, Bangladeshi youth have clarity of ideas about corruption. “They have negative perceptions about politics and law enforcement agencies. They believe that corruption is rampant in these areas,” Iftekharuzzaman said.Chairperson of TIB Trustee Board Sultana Kamal said, the youths are being compelled to accept corruption as a reality. “They can’t apply their values in dealing with corruption,” she said.
