Corrupts irrespective of positions won’t be spared: President

President M Abdul Hamid on Monday appreciated the ongoing drive against the irregularities and corruption, issuing a note of warning that corrupt people would not be spared, reports BSS.

“The government has meantime started drives to remove irregularities and corruption from the society . . . Whatever be your position – whether big leader, officer, engineer, businessman or contactor, none will be spared in case of indulging in any irregularity or corruption,” he said.

The head of the state was addressing the inaugural function of a three-day fair marking the World Habitat Day at Bangabandhu International Conference Center at Sher-e Bangla Nagar in the capital on Monday evening. President Abdul Hamid hoped that this drive would play a very rewarding role to country’s socio-economic development and ensure quality of infrastructural advancement.

Expressing his resentment over some corrupt practices in different government development projects by a section of corrupt individuals, he said cheating in the name of business cannot be accepted. “If it is possible to ensure proper monitoring at all stages, we will be able to remain away from hearing any story of unethically using bamboo instead of cement in the construction works,” he mentioned. The President also asked the contactors and others concerned not to resort to dillydally practices in completing any construction work with an ulterior motive of increasing the cost of the project in the long run.

“There should not be even a meager scope to compromise with the quality of works in implementing any public project,” he said, adding that “Do the business honestly, the government will remain beside you, and you will get all kinds of cooperation.” To keep the projects free from the corrupt practices and indentify the persons responsible for it specifically, Abdul Hamid suggested authorities concerned to specify the duties and responsibilities of officials, engineers and all concerned in the projects. Noting that Bangladesh is proceeding towards tremendous development, the President mentioned that Bangladesh in the meantime attained ability enough
to construct a 20-storey building within only 13 months duration.

“But this achievement cannot be tainted due to a section of corrupt individuals . . . This kind of activity creates confusion among the common people and tarnishes the image of the democratic government,” Abdul Hamid observed. Turning to the existing waste management in Bangladesh, the President stressed on the implementation of a coordinated waste management, adopting a time-befitting plan.

He said the government is giving importance to the modern waste management system alongside particular emphasis on environment protection for all kinds of activities, including urbanization and setting up of industries and factories. The President also put emphasis on preventing the environment pollution by transforming wastes into wealth by using frontier technologies as an innovative idea.

Housing and Public Works Minister SM Rezaul Karim, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Housing and Public Works Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, MP, parliament members, secretary of the Housing and Public Works Ministry M Shaheed Ullah Khandaker, UN Resident Representative to Bangladesh Mia Seppo, secretaries concerned to Bangabhaban, among others, were present on the occasion.