Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman on Wednesday said political leaders must first ensure their own integrity and remain free from corruption to effectively combat graft in the country.

“The first condition for eliminating corruption is that political leaders who speak publicly about ending corruption must first make themselves free from it. Any anti-corruption initiative will fail if corruption among politicians and individual leaders cannot be eliminated,” he said.

The minister made the remarks as the chief guest at an exchange meeting with local teachers and professional journalists at the Shailkupa Upazila BNP office in Jhenaidah.

Warning against irregularities in recruitment at educational institutions, Asaduzzaman said no one involved in financial transactions or bribery in the appointment of teachers and employees would be spared.

He also warned against abuse of power or misconduct by school managing committee presidents towards headteachers. At the same time, he said headteachers involved in irregularities and embezzlement at the expense of educational standards and a healthy learning environment would not be tolerated.

Speaking about protecting young people from drugs and modernising the education system, the minister said managing the current generation had become an increasingly difficult challenge for teachers.

He expressed concern that a significant number of young people were becoming involved in drug abuse, stressing that bringing them back to the right path and protecting them from addiction was a key responsibility.

He called on teachers to rethink their approach to the younger generation and take timely, well-planned and appropriate decisions to address their needs.

Heads and assistant teachers from various private schools, colleges and madrasas in Shailkupa upazila attended the meeting, along with journalists from print and electronic media and local social and political leaders.