PM promises to carry on anti-graft campaign

GBNEWS24DESK//

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today promised to keep up the ongoing anti-graft campaign seeking intensified Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) drives to expose to justice illegal wealth amassers in a nationwide address coinciding with the first anniversary of her government’s third term in power.

“The ongoing drive against the corrupt elements will continue … I would like to warn everybody again that the corrupt elements whoever they might be and whatever powerful they are, will not be spared,” she said in her address.

The premier added: “I call upon the Anti-Corruption Commission to bring to the book those, whoever they might be, if found involved in acquiring illegal wealth.”

Sheikh Hasina said the campaign was required so that none could snatch rights of common people and advised the corrupt elements to rectify them immediately in their own interest.

“I work for the common people and I won’t hesitate to take any (required) step to protect their interest,” she said.

State-run BTV and other TV channels and Bangladesh Betar broadcast simultaneously her address marking the completion of the first year of the third consecutive term of the ruling Awami League.

Sheikh Hasina said as part of the anti-graft campaign her government was spearheading a motivational campaign against corruption considering people’s participation was a must to check corruption adding that the social menace would automatically be reduced if the people could be sensitized.

She said harsh drives were simultaneously underway to bring to book those who were involved in corruption while “initiatives have also been taken to widen the use of information communication technology (ICT) to stamp out corruption in various sectors”.

The prime minister said the ongoing drives against militancy, terrorism and narcotics would continue as well adding that police and other law enforcement agencies by now significantly succeeded in containing militancy indebting the countrymen.

“(On the other hand) we’ve taken appropriate measures to enhance capacity of the law enforcement agencies,” she said.

In her 30-minute speech, Sheikh Hasina called upon the countrymen to take a fresh vow to establish non-communal Sonar Bangladesh free from hunger, poverty and illiteracy in the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

“Let’s take a fresh vow irrespective of party and opinion to establish secular Sonar Bangladesh free from hunger, poverty and illiteracy in the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation,” the premier said.

She went on saying: “We want to establish a peaceful society where there will be no jealousy, hatred and conflict and the people of all religions, castes and creeds can live in peace. All have been able to perform their religions with due dignity.”

The premier’s year-ending address also featured issues ranging from militancy and drugs to foreign relations particularly with neighbours, the Rohingya crisis, BNP-Jamaat politics, poverty and social safety net, , campus situation, public health, military affairs and policing.

“Religious leaders along with the imams of mosques have been imparted with training as none can derail the youth through misinterpretation of the holy Islam,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said that 650 model mosques were being constructed across the country under the government initiatives.

The prime minister said being a democratic political party Bangladesh Awami League is always respectful to the constitution.

“We believe in the rule of law and we also believe that the people’s mandate is the only way to changeover of state power,” Sheikh Hasina said adding that her government always welcomed any peaceful democratic movement.

But she said her government would not tolerate destructive activities on illogical demands and warned that recurrence torching people to death and arson attacks staged in the past by BNP-Jamaat would never be allowed again on the soil of Bangladesh.

“We’ve taken all sorts of measures to make parliament effective and the participation of the lawmakers from both the treasury and opposition benches makes the Jatiya Sangsad vibrant,” she said.