Opposition Leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Friday questioned the BNP-led government's commitment to combating corruption, asking why graft continues if "everything runs" according to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's directives.
"We see that everything runs on his directives. Then why can't corruption be stopped on his directive?" the Jamaat chief said, while addressing the triennial national conference of the Bangladesh Transport Workers Federation at the National Press Club in the city.
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Referring to remarks made by BNP Secretary General and LGRD Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir a day earlier, the Jamaat chief said a senior BNP leader had himself admitted that they were frustrated as corruption has not abated in the first five months of the current government, and added that corruption had instead increased.
"According to him (Fakhrul), everyone is involved in corruption except one person—Tarique Rahman. I (Shafiqur) don't understand. If Tarique Rahman is the Prime Minister and does not want corruption, how can everyone else be corrupt?" he said.
On Thursday, Mirza Fakhrul said those who used to take bribes were still looking for ways to do so, while officials who used to obstruct good work continued the same practices.
Despite expressing disappointment over the persistence of corruption, Fakhrul said he remained hopeful because he had witnessed positive changes in Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, who remains above it all.
Shafiqur said since the government's acknowledgement of its failure to control corruption, it has lost the moral authority to remain in office.
"When the government itself admits its failure, does it still have any moral right to stay in power? Morally, it has lost its right to govern the country," he said.
The Jamaat chief also accused BNP leaders and activists of extortion, particularly in the transport sector, alleging that transport workers were routinely harassed by extortionists.
"If workers refuse to pay extortion money, they face attacks. They are beaten, injured and their vehicles are vandalised," he said.
About the July-August 2024 mass uprising, Shafiqur urged all political parties and persons not to claim sole credit for the movement.
"We have never claimed the July-August achievement as our party's achievement. I request everyone not to claim exclusive credit for it. Whether a person, a political party or a group, it belongs to no one alone," he said.
Addressing the conference, Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Rafiqul Islam Khan said the transport sector could only be freed from extortion if it was led by people free from corruption and extortion.
The conference was chaired by Bangladesh Transport Workers Federation President Kabir Ahmad.