DHAKA, Feb 26, 2020 (BSS) – Issuing a note of warning against corruption
and irregularities, Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said the
government would not allow anyone to indulge in corruption and irregularity
by using political identity.
“The Awami League government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will not
tolerate any kind of corruption and irregularity . . . the ongoing drive
against graft and irregularity will be continued,” he said, addressing a book
unveiling function at an auditorium of Jatiya Press Club (JPC) in the
capital.
The minister unveiled the cover of the book named ‘Bangabandhur Sara
Jibon’ (The Entire Life of Bangabandhu) written by Bangladesh Federal Union
of Journalists’ (BFUJ) Secretary General Saban Mahmud.
Hasan went on saying that the government would continue crack down on
corruption as it (government) sternly deals with all sorts of corrupt
practices.
He said, “I would like to congratulate our honourable Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina as she is taking actions against corrupt people without considering
their political ideology.”
The minister said there are many intruders and opportunists in the party
(AL) as it is in the state power for three consecutive times.
“Many of them (intruders) are linked with misdeeds and they entered the
party to exploit it as a political shield,” he added.
“We should remain alert against intruders and opportunists . . . They are
only miscreants,” said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.
The minister said Bangladesh is moving forward indomitably under the
dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to materialise the dream
of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
He said the National Economic Council (NEC) yesterday approved the
country’s second Perspective Plan for the year 2021-2041 in a bid to turn
Bangladesh into a developed country by 2041.
Bangladesh has already graduated to a middle-income country from the least
developing one, said Hasan, adding that the country has gained remarkable
progress in many socioeconomic indexes, including human development index,
and achieved GDP growth was higher than many countries in the last 11 years.
The per capita income is now around 2,000 US dollars while it was only
$600 in 2008, he said.
Mentioning that Bangladesh has surpassed Pakistan in all indexes and even
surpassed India in many social indicators, the minister said, “It has been
only possible for outstanding leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.”
“Once Bangladesh faced food deficit … Despite shrinking of farm land due
to rapid urbanisation and construction of different infrastructures,
including houses, Bangladesh has now become a food surplus country as the
present government has implemented multifaceted development schemes,” said
Hasan.
The AL joint general secretary said Bangladesh is now a case study for the
World Food Organisation as it has become a food surplus country though the
agricultural land didn’t increase even for an inch.
He said Bangladesh could progress more if negative politics was not
pursued by political parties, especially BNP. “BNP criticises everything done
by the government, but it should acknowledge the government’s good works and
development activities,” he added.
The minister said they (BNP) blocked common people, killed masses by petrol
bombs, set fire on standing bus, truck and launches and hurled bombs at
school-going children.
Hasan said Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is now
known as the role model of development.
The minister said just after returning home after the independence of the
country, Bangabandhu devoted himself to building the nation but “the
architect of independent Bangladesh could not materialise his dream”.
He said Bangladesh would have become a developed nation like Singapore and
Malaysia many years ago if Bangabandhu were alive.
Senior journalist Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, JPC general secretary Farida
Yeasmin, BFUJ general secretary and author of the book Saban Mahmud,
Swadhinata Chikitshok Parishad secretary general Professor Dr MA Aziz,
Associate Professor of Social Welfare Department of Dhaka University Towhidul
Islam and Saban’s elder brother Tulu Biswas, among others, addressed the
function.
Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) general secretary Sohel Haider Chowdhury
conducted the programme with publisher of the book Iqbal Hossain Shanu in the
chair.