CHATTOGRAM, Sept 7, 2019 (BSS) – Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud
today said BNP has no right to say about corruption as it made the country
the most corrupted nation in the world during its regime.
“During the tenure of BNP, Bangladesh became champion in graft for the
fifth consecutive time … the party had made Bangladesh disgraced before the
world and that’s why it has no right to question about corruption,” he told
reporters after attending a prize distribution ceremony at Theater Institute
in the port city this afternoon.
Hasan said the present government has taken zero tolerance policy towards
graft, saying there is no involvement of any politician or public
representative in corruption.
“The Prime Minister has taken a zero tolerance policy against corruption.
Some government officials, who have been found guilty in pillow scam, have
already been brought to justice,” he said.
About BNP secretary general Mirza Fakrul Islam Alamgir’s remarks on
development and corruption, Dr Hasan said its chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia
had whitened black money. She was sentenced to 10 years rigorous
imprisonment, while her son Arafat Rahman Koko’s corruption was found in
Singapore, he said.
Hasan, also the Awami League Publication and Publicity Affairs Secretary,
said the entire leadership of BNP, which had been reeling under immense
corruption, has no right to say about ‘pillow and curtain scams’.
Replying to a question, he said the crisis which erupted in Jatiya Party is
its internal matter, saying the problem is temporary and it would be resolved
soon with their united efforts.
The information minister claimed that about one lakh Rohingyas had gone to
Saudi Arabia carrying Bangladeshi passports during the BNP regime so
Bangladesh had to face problems in Saudi Arabia.
He said the present government is trying its best with its diplomatic
endeavours to send Rohingya people back to their homes in Rakhine State of
Myanmar.
The people, who would be found involved in providing Bangladeshi passports
to Rohingyas, must face punishment, he warned.
Speaking earlier at the prize distribution ceremony, the AL publication and
publicity secretary said debate is an integral part of a democratic society
and a society could not sustain without debate.
“The importance of debate is immense for establishing a democratic
society,” he added.
Chaired by Drishti president Masud Bakul, the function was addressed,
among others, by chief executive officer of Robi Mahtab Uddin Ahmed, member
of Independent University Safia Gazi Rahman, member of Rajdhani Development
Authority Shamsuddin Ahmed Chowdhury and Karnaphuli upazila nirbahi officer
Shamsuddin Tabrig.