Senior AL MPs rail against corruption in bureaucracy

Two ruling Awami League MPs on Tuesday came down heavily on a section of bureaucrats for their alleged corruption, report agencies. 

They said that their widespread corruption is diminishing all the achievements of the government.

AL MPs Mahbubul Alam Hanif and Motahar Hossain said this while participating in the discussion on the proposed budget for 2024-25.

Expressing their anger, the two senior MPs said that politicians have to take responsibility for corruption even if they are not involved in corruption.

“Corruption is dimming the entire achievements of the government. Despite its zero tolerance policy, the government couldn’t curb or control corruption,” Hanif, lawmaker from Kushtia-2, said.

Hanif, also joint general secretary of AL, said today the market looks unstable, commodity prices are increasing. It is difficult to control the market. The market can never be controlled, if there is free flow of corruption in the market.

He said, this time two incidents have become talk of the country: "A cow was sold for Tk 1 crore. Who bought it and why? It couldn’t be bought with legal means of income. Those who have illegal income can afford to buy this."

"A goat was bought at a cost of 15 lakhs. Who can do it? Those who have illegal income. Legitimate income can never throw money into the water (misuse). To control the market, corruption should be controlled first,” Hanif said.

He said that the salaries of government employees has been increased on different occasions. Their facilities have been enhanced. "Still why corruption?"

“Anti-corruption laws have been made more flexible. They are allowed to retain their jobs with a nominal penalty,” he said.

He mentioned that when corruption comes up, everyone first points fingers at the politicians. Politicians are involved in corruption. It is known in the country.

“However, none of the MPs have executive power except the minister. How will they engage in corruption? Corruption takes place during carrying out the government development works and procurement. Where is the opportunity here for a politician (to commit corruption)?”

In 2018, he said that information came to the public administration that corruption charges were filed against one thousand officials. "There are thousands of Matiurs," he added, referring to the NBR official who was made OSD for alleged involvement in corruption.

Hanif said if there is a criminal case against the politicians at the national level, there is no need to take permission to arrest them. But in case of similar cases against government officials, permission of higher officials is required to arrest them.

Hanif alleged that The Government Servants Act-2018 is encouraging officials and employees to commit corruption. Government staff will not be exempted from service if they are punished for less than 1 year which is not conducive to good governance.

Opposing the opportunity to whiten black money with 15 percent tax, Hanif said, “I don‍‍`t think it is logical to pay 30 percent tax if I earn legally, while another person makes illegal, undisclosed income and makes it legal by paying 15 percent tax.”

Motahar Hossain in his speech said bureaucrats say all politicians are corrupt. "They actually made homes at home and abroad—at Begumpara, deposit money in Swiss banks. But today all the fault lies with the politicians!"

Motahar also said the importance of politicians is decreasing while the importance of bureaucrats is increasing.