While replying to a question about the government’s measures against corruption at a press conference, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reiterated her commitment to pursue the ‘zero tolerance’ policy to wipe out corruption from the country, saying she will not spare corrupt people no matter whoever they are or whatever position they hold. Even she does not consider who are close or who are not. She must execute the absolute ‘zero tolerance policy’ against corruption.
We laud the ‘bold and courageous’ leadership of Sheikh Hasina for declaring war against corruption. No corrupt person will be spared as the government has announced ‘zero tolerance’ against corruption. In response to a surge in corruption and criminal activities, including high-profile question leak she announced a comprehensive joint operation across the country.
The latest actions against some allegedly corrupt government high officials and employees have already sent a warning message to other greedy and dishonest officials and employees. Therefore, the fear of arrest has gripped the corrupt officials of government from central to field level in the country.
However, we think it is still one of the major concerns in our country amid government’s efforts to implement her (Sheikh Hasina) zero-tolerance policy against graft. The job seekers either rural or urban area are being harassed and humiliated in many ways by the greedy and corrupt officials and employees when they go to the government offices to get service or for other important purposes.
We are stunned why there should be corrupt practices when the government raised d the salaries, allowances and other privileges and fringe benefits of the public servants significantly. We also wonder when a section of government officials and employees allegedly ignoring the Prime Minister’s warning and still abusing power and taking bribe shamelessly from the service seekers every day. Some of them term the bribe-taking as a style, saying the bribe money is distributed among all officials and employees. We believe this time the government will never tolerate this (corruption), all will be held responsible for their own duties, and all have to perform their duties properly.
Actions against some allegedly corrupt
government high
officials and employees have already sent a
warning message to other greedy and
dishonest officials
The public servants who would abuse the power and responsibilities should be dealt with severely, strictly controlled and brought to justice under the existing law immediately. All must keep it in mind that development must not be affected in any way because of graft.
So, the authorities should intensify the drive against corrupt officials and staffs immediately as people’s sentiment against the persisting corrupt practices in different sectors, has already taken a serious turn. If any official is involved in corruption, he or she must not be spared and he or she must be ousted.
We believe the ACC (Anti-Corruption Commission) is here. Prime Minister is firm on her zero-tolerance policy against corruption. The ACC is completely free. The ACC is independent and it can investigate corruption without government interference.
However, we the general people are yet to get rid of the menace of corruption, irregularities and mismanagement as no stern action has been taken against the corrupt officials and employees from grassroots to central level. Being encouraged, these organised corrupt officials and employees forming an unofficial syndicate continue resorting to corruption across the country.
It should be mentioned here that some dictators polluted the society by destroying the character of the people as they grabbed power after 1975. They taught the people, from top to bottom, how to be corrupt and earn black money to prolong the power they had grabbed illegally. But people in the past used to lead their life maintaining ideology and policy.
Corruption is not good for any country. The government must completely stop this culture by removing the people who were linked to the corruption and misdeed right now. Send the message of stern actions against the corrupt individuals at all levels.
