Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said that the ongoing drives against corruption is not an ‘eyewash’. It is a drive against corrupt practices and none would be spared irrespective of his or her party affiliation. She said that none is being spared on consideration of his or her relationship with any political party. Whoever is found guilty is being arrested.
The Prime Minister made the remarks while replying to questions at a press briefing at her official residence in Ganobhaban Tuesday afternoon on her recent return from Azerbaijan tour attending the 18th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
Asked whether the anti-corruption drives are intended only for ‘eye-wash’-, PM Sheikh Hasina explained, “The ongoing drives against corrupt people are not for ‘eyewash’. I did not consider sparing any of my family members or relatives. Whoever is found guilty is being held.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that criminals do not belong to any party and on that note none is being arrested following any fixed criteria. Replying to another query about whether the drives would be conducted against the corrupts from all sectors, the PM asked journalists to wait and see. Sheikh Hasina mentioned that after coming to power, Ziaur Rahman had launched a culture of money laundering and students were empowered with illegal arms.
PM Hasina said, “Two among the main corrupts--Khaleda Zia and her son Tareq Zia--already have been handed down punishment for their crimes. They have more people, who were involved with corruptions, terrorism and killings.” As the onion market still remains overheated, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina termed the crisis temporary, saying there is nothing to worry about.
“The crisis is temporary. It won’t last for long. There’s nothing to worry,” The Prime Minister said that 55,000 tons of onions are entering the country. “Meals can be prepared and cooked without onion,” she smiled, adding that many items are cooked without onion at her residence, too. PM slams media for not publishing report on illegal casino business.
At the briefing, Sheikh Hasina also sarcastically criticised the media role for not publishing any report on casino business.
“You (journalists) did not get any news on how the casino business runs here. Can you give the answer before the nation? You can’t do this for ever,” Hasina said.
Responding to a query, she said that there is no relation between Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the illegal casino business.
“A member of the BCB was found involved in the illegal casino business and he has been arrested and thus any further question in this regard is irrelevant,” she said.
Hasina, also president of the ruling Awami League, threw a counter-question asking what would happen if any journalist is found involved in the illegal casino business as nobody knows who will be arrested in this connection?
About the participation in the NAM Summit, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the participation of Bangladesh in the Summit at such internationally reputed platform of NAM held in Baku of Azerbaijan has further strengthened the country’s position in the international arena.
"The participation of Bangladesh in the NAM Summit was very significant considering the possibility of political polarization of the new world order," she said. She said NAM is the second largest multilateral forum after the United Nations, and NAM alongside the UN has a very important role to play in resolving Rohingya crisis. Sheikh Hasina said issues on strengthening concerted efforts and multilateral diplomacy of the member countries were mainly discussed at the two-day summit.
Following the stance of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman which the great leader declared in the 4th NAM Summit in 1973, she highlighted Bangladesh’s voice in favour of the exploited people, she said.
"It has been possible to project Bangladesh’s achievements and its contribution to establishing world peace as well as its stance for the exploited people around the world, including the Palestinians," the Prime Minister said. Besides, it was also possible to highlight the issues to work together by the NAM member states in facing various challenges like adverse impact of climate change and the Rohingya crisis, she mentioned.
Terming basic principles of the NAM as a symbol of hopes and aspirations of the common people, Sheikh Hasina stressed ensuring peace and security across the globe as well as giving priority to cultural values to discard conflicts. Besides, she urged all to work unitedly in the light of the values of the 21st century to build a peaceful and stable world. Hasina mentioned that the issues of resolving conflicts among countries, implementation of SDGs, disarmament of nuclear weapons and freedom of Palestinian people also came up in her speech.
In her speech earlier alongside highlighting various success stories of the country, she mentioned the Rohingya crisis and climate change as the two major challenges for Bangladesh.
The Prime Minister said she urged the international community to come forward to face the challenges. Besides, she reiterated that the voluntary return of Rohingyas to their homeland in Rakhine state of Myanmar with safety, security and dignity is the only solution to the crisis. During her stay in Baku, the Prime Minister said, she also held bilateral meetings with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, President Hasan Ruhani of Iran, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohammad and Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on the sidelines of the NAM Summit.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malik also paid a courtesy call on her at Baku Congress Centre, she said. Referring to her meeting with Azerbaijan President, Hasina said both sides agreed to strengthen bilateral relations in the years to come for mutual benefits. Referring to the Rohingya crisis, she thanked Ilham Aliyev for extending moral and physical support to Bangladesh on the issue, Hasina said. The Prime Minister said she also recalled with profound respect the support of Azerbaijan as part of the then Soviet Union to Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971.
About her talks with Iranian President Hasan Ruhani and Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohammad, the Prime Minister said they highly praised Bangladesh’s humanitarian gesture to give shelter to Rohingyas and provide them with other support. The Prime Minister said Algeria President proposed opening a mission in Dhaka to boost its trade and business with Bangladesh. On her talks with Nepalese Prime Minister, Hasina said she put emphasis on finalising the Preferential Trade Agreement with Nepal for the mutual benefits of the people of the two countries.
