corruption
A bridge in Sunamganj that symbolizes corruption
Irregularities in development projects, including slow implementation, repeated extension of deadlines and the use of substandard materials, are nothing new in Bangladesh.
The ordinary residents of Tahirpur upazila describe a horrific story of irregularities in a bridge construction that have badly affected their lives.
An incomplete concrete bridge constructed over the Shantipur River in Tahirpur upazila of Sunamganj four years back is the story that reminds all about widespread anomalies in the country.
Read: Goalundo bridge turns into death trap
No one could use the bridge in the last four years as it was built without approach roads, prolonging the sufferings of the villagers.
They said though it is possible to walk across the river in autumn when it dries up but it is almost impossible to move during monsoon.
Badaghat-Chanpur road on which the bridge was built is used by people, especially by students and traders of 30 villages of the upazila.
It is learnt that the bridge was constructed on the Shantipur River under Uttar Badal union of the upazila in 2017 spending Tk 32 lakh. But the contractor did not complete the earthworks on neither side, let alone the connecting road. Now the bridge is there stand over the river but unable to offer any relief to.
According to Tahirpur upazila Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) office, Parvez Enterprise of Jamalganj upazila constructed the bridge as it had got the contract for implementing the project.
They left the project site as soon as the bridge was constructed without building the approach roads.
Later, the chairman of Uttar Borodal Union Parishad allotted Tk 3.2 lakh from the Employment Programme project for the construction of connecting roads making Abu Taher Mia, a UP member, head of the project.
Abu Taher started work from Shantipur Bazar and did the earthwork but still over 200 feet on the north side of the bridge remained untouched.
As the works remained incomplete, the soil was washed away during the rainy season in 2018.
Masuk Mia, a resident of the area, said the authorities concerned have not taken any necessary steps to make the bridge usable after its construction. “They didn’t feel the necessity that to make a bridge usable, connecting roads should be there on its both sides and have to be built with retention walls,” Masuk said.
Read: Ageing bailey bridges turn death traps in hilly Khagrachari roads
The road connecting the bridge would have created job opportunities for many unemployed youths in the area had the bridge been made useable, he said.
Majid, a resident of Chanpur village, said, “If the connecting road would have been built, we could have easily used the bridge on Chanpur-Badaghat road to reach Tahirpur Sadar and suffering of the people would have reduced.”
Tahirpur upazila LGRD engineer Iqbal Karim said, "I’m new in this area. So, I’m not aware of the issue. We’ll take necessary steps.”
Tahirpur UP chairman Karuna Sindhu Chowdhury Babul said, “I will talk to the authorities concerned to end the sufferings of the local people.”
President's prescription: 'Boycott the corrupt'
"The society should boycott the corrupt" -- that's President Abdul Hamid's curt prescription to end corruption in Bangladesh.
"No man is born corrupt. Family, social and surrounding environment have the greatest impact on human life. So, corrupt people should be socially boycotted," he said at a programme on the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day on December 9.
The programme was organised at the city's Shilapakala Academy this morning, where Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain also delivered his speech as the special guest.
Read:President signs resignation letter of Murad Hasan
Ensure democracy and good governance eradicating corruption: Opposition MPs
Opposition MPs on Thursday urged the government to ensure democracy and good governance eradicating corruption and irregularities in order to implement the spirit of the country’s independence.
But the treasury bench MPs mainly highlighted the development of Bangladesh during the Awami League rule, particularly under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Both opposition and ruling party MPs participated in a two-day special discussion that concluded on Thursday in Parliament, marking the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s Independence.
Leader of the House and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday placed a proposal for holding a general discussion in Parliament under section 47 of the Rules of Procedure to mark the 50 years of the country’s independence.
The proposal was adopted unanimously by voice vote on Thursday after the general discussion. Fifty-nine MPs from across the board joined the discussion and spoke for 10 hours and 45 minutes.
President Abdul Hamid on Wednesday delivered a commemorative speech, marking the Golden Jubilee of independence.
Joining the discussion, Jatiya Party Secretary General Mujbul Haque said there is no doubt what the country has achieved, but corruption and irregularities need to be eradicated to materialize Bangabandhu’s dreams.
"Bangabandhu had said corruption must be eradicated. But that was not done. In order to implement Bangabandhu's philosophy, corruption must be stopped,” he said.
“Plundering of banks, default loans and money laundering were not Bangabandhu's dreams. We’ll have to stop all these ugly things,” said the JP MP.
Read: Opposition MPs slam mismanagement, politics in health sector
Another JP lawmaker, Anisul Islam Mahmud, said all the achievements would be shattered if the institutions of the country are not strengthened.
“Though 50 years have elapsed since independence, our institutions have not been strengthened enough. So, we’ve to do that. Otherwise, all the achievements will go in vain,” he said.
He said there is no denial that Bangladesh has witnessed significant development. “Since election is the main principle of democracy, I urge the Prime Minister to strengthen the EC.”
Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon said social disparity continues to expand in the country even though Bangladesh has attained massive development.
“The disparity has widened and turned acute. Bangladesh is seeing unprecedented development under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina as there has been marked progress in all economic indexes…but the assets and wealth of the country have got concentrated in the hands of a few,” he said.
Expressing dismay over the participation of businessmen in politics, Menon said, "We’ve noticed today that a military-civil bureaucracy-rich group has developed centering the ruling power.”
Noting that Bangabandhu had brought the bureaucracy under public representatives, Menon said now the public representatives are under the bureaucracy.
“We’ve to take the development and democracy forward simultaneously, and resist all sorts of communal activities,” he said.
Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque said Bangladesh has now become as the role model for development in the last 50 years of independence, proving all the speculations of international groups wrong.
Read: Opposition MPs call Health Minister “shameless” over health sector “failures”
He said many international personalities had predicted that Bangladesh might not survive as an independent country and even if it survives it would have to depend on foreign aid. “But Bangladesh is now a role model proving their predictions wrong,” he said.
The Agriculture Minister urged all to get united to implement the ideology of Bangabandhu.
AL MP Shajahan Khan said the ideology of Bangabandhu and the spirit of Liberation War are the only values for people to take the country forward.
He urged the people of Bangladesh to fight all the conspiracies against the country. “We all would have to be united under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina.”
BNP MP Rumeen Farhana said Bangladesh was liberated as an independent country with a motto of establishing democracy.
“But in the last one decade, limited democracy has been introduced in Bangladesh,” she said.
Rumin said, the “more development, less democracy” culture is going on in Bangladesh now just like Ayub's (Pakistani autocratic ruler) “basic democracy”.
BNP MP Harunur Rashid slammed the government saying that corruption is everywhere, especially in the health and education sectors.
He said there is no democracy and the rule of law in Bangladesh.
Files not missing but concealed, alleges BNP
BNP senior leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday alleged that 17 files have been concealed from the health ministry at the behest of the minister concerned to hush up the evidence of corruption.
“There’s hardly anyone who doesn’t understand as to why 17 files have gone missing. It seems to me that the Awami League leaders and ministers are trying to flee the country. So, 17 files have been concealed to remove documents (of corruption),” he said.
Speaking at a human-chain programme, the BNP leader also said the files have been removed as per the instruction of the health minister so that no one can know under any circumstances about how much money has been spent on “providing percentage”.
Jatiyatabadi Tanti Dal arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club protesting the soaring prices of daily essentials.
Also read: Harassment started ahead of election, alleges BNP
According to media reports, 17 files have recently gone missing from the Health Ministry's Medical Education and Family Welfare Division and a general diary has been filed with Shahbagh Police Station in this connection.
Rizvi alleged that the handloom and weaving industry is on the verge of destruction during the tenure of this government for lack of patronage.
The BNP leader said huge money has been misappropriated from the Labour Welfare Fund. “We demand from this human chain that a white paper be published on the embezzlement of money from the fund.”
He also criticised the government for what he said its failure to control the skyrocketing prices of the daily essentials.
Also read: Dhaka now a poisonous-gas chamber: BNP
“There’s no reason for increasing the prices of commodities. But Awami League leaders need a percentage from every place. To ensure this percentage, their syndicate, their looters have spread everywhere to make their pockets heavier,” the BNP leader said.
He said the ruling party leaders and activists are indulging in violence and bloodletting over the lopsided Union Parishad polls with an aim to plunder public money after becoming chairmen.
Stating that their party chairperson Khaleda Zia is very sick, Rizvi urged the government to allow her to go abroad for advanced treatment.
Iraq's parliamentary vote marred by boycott, voter apathy
Iraqis voted Sunday in parliamentary elections held months ahead of schedule as a concession to a youth-led popular uprising against corruption and mismanagement.
But the voting was marked by widespread apathy and a boycott by many of the young activists who thronged the streets of Baghdad and Iraq's southern provinces in late 2019. Tens of thousands of people took part in the mass protests and were met by security forces firing live ammunition and tear gas. More than 600 people were killed and thousands injured within just a few months.
Although authorities gave in and called the early elections, the death toll and the heavy-handed crackdown - as well as a string of targeted assassinations - prompted many who took part in the protests to later call for a boycott of the vote.
Polls closed at 1500 GMT (1800 local time) following 11 hours of voting. Results are expected within the next 24 hours, according to the independent body that oversees Iraq’s election. But negotiations to choose a prime minister tasked with forming a government are expected to drag on for weeks or even months.
The election was the sixth held since the fall of Saddam Hussein after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. Many were skeptical that independent candidates from the protest movement stood a chance against well-entrenched parties and politicians, many of them backed by powerful armed militias.
Read: Polls open in Iraq's general elections amid tight security
Minutes after polls closed, fireworks organized by Baghdad's municipality went off in the city's landmark Tahrir Square, where demonstrators had set up tents for several months starting in October 2019. The protests fizzled out by February of the following year, due to the security crackdown and later, the coronavirus pandemic.
Today, the square stands largely empty. The country faces huge economic and security challenges, and although most Iraqis long for change, few expect it to happen as a result of the elections.
Muna Hussein, a 22-year-old cinematic makeup artist, said she boycotted the election because she did not feel there was a safe environment “with uncontrolled weapons everywhere," a reference to the mainly Shiite militias backed by neighboring Iran.
“In my opinion, it isn’t easy to hold free and fair elections under the current circumstances,” she said.
Amir Fadel, a 22-year-old car dealer, disagreed. “I don’t want these same faces and same parties to return,” he said after casting his ballot in Baghdad’s Karradah district.
Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, whose chances for a second term will be determined by the results of the election, urged Iraqis to vote in large numbers.
“Get out and vote, and change your future,,” said al-Kadhimi, repeating the phrase, “get out” three times after casting his ballot at a school in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone, home to foreign embassies and government offices.
Under Iraq’s laws, the winner of Sunday’s vote gets to choose the country’s next prime minister, but it’s unlikely any of the competing coalitions can secure a clear majority. That will require a lengthy process involving backroom negotiations to select a consensus prime minister and agree on a new coalition government. It took eight months of political wrangling to form a government after the 2018 elections.
Groups drawn from Iraq’s majority Shiite Muslims dominate the electoral landscape, with a tight race expected between Iraq's influential Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, and the Fatah Alliance, led by paramilitary leader Hadi al-Ameri, which came in second in the previous election.
Read: Biden says US combat mission in Iraq to conclude by year end
The Fatah Alliance is comprised of parties and affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella group of mostly pro-Iran Shiite militias that rose to prominence during the war against the Sunni extremist Islamic State group. It includes some of the most hard-line Iran-backed factions, such as the Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia. Al-Sadr, a black-turbaned nationalist leader, is also close to Iran, but publicly rejects its political influence.
Earlier Sunday, al-Sadr cast his ballot in the Shiite holy city of Najaf, swarmed by local journalists. He then drove away in a white sedan without commenting. Al-Sadr, a populist who has an immense following among Iraq’s working class Shiites, came out on top in the 2018 elections, winning a majority of seats.
The election is the first since the fall of Saddam to proceed without a curfew in place, reflecting the significantly improved security situation in the country following the defeat of IS in 2017. Previous votes were marred by fighting and deadly bomb attacks that have plagued the country for decades.
More than 250,000 security personnel across the country were tasked with protecting the vote. Soldiers, police and anti-terrorism forces fanned out and deployed outside polling stations, some of which were ringed by barbed wire. Voters were patted down and searched.
As a security precaution, Iraq closed its airspace and land border crossings and scrambled its air force from Saturday night until early Monday morning.
In another first, Sunday’s election is taking place under a new election law that divides Iraq into smaller constituencies — another demand of the activists who took part in the 2019 protests — and allows for more independent candidates.
The 2018 elections saw just 44% of eligible voters cast their ballots, a record low, and the results were widely contested. There are concerns of a similar or even lower turnout this time.
Read: Death toll rises to 92 in blaze at coronavirus ward in Iraq
In a tea shop in Karradah, one of the few open, candidate Reem Abdulhadi walked in to ask whether people had cast their vote.
“I will give my vote to Umm Kalthoum, the singer, she is the only one who deserves it,” the tea vendor quipped, referring to the late Egyptian singer beloved by many in the Arab world. He said he will not take part in the election and didn’t believe in the political process.
After a few words, Abdulhadi gave the man, who asked to remain anonymous, a card with her name and number in case he changed his mind. He put it in his pocket.
“Thank you, I will keep it as a souvenir,” he said.
At that moment, a low-flying, high-speed military aircraft flew overhead making a screeching noise. “Listen to this. This sound is terror. It reminds me of war, not an election,” he added.
ACC approves corruption charges against 7 doctors and 4 others
The Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) on Tuesday approved charge-sheets against 11 people, including seven doctors and three contractors for irregularities in procurement of drugs for Maternal and Child Health Training Institute.
Investigation Officer Deputy Director Mohammad Abu Bakr filed the case with Dhaka Coordinated Office -1 in 2019.
According to the case statement, the ACC investigated allegations of corruption in various purchases for the institute in Azimpur from 2014-15 to 2016-17.
In the financial year 2014-15, as per the work order, a bill of Tk 32 lakh 91 thousand 720 was paid to the contractor for the supply of medicines.
However, the maximum price of the same drug is TK16 lakh 45 thousand 298 according to the retail price and the price of the Department of Drug Administration. The rest of the money has been paid extra.
READ: Following complaints, ACC launches drive against Jibon Bima MD
Thus, money has been embezzled in the same process in four financial years, according to the charges.
The charge-sheeted people are - Proprietor of Monarch Establishment Fatenur Islam,
Owner of Nafisa Business Corner Sheikh Idris Uddin (Chanchal), Proprietor of Santana Traders Nizamur Rahman Chowdhury, former Supervisor of Maternal and Child Health Training Institute of Azimpur, Dhaka and President of Tender Evaluation Committee Dr. Israt Jahan,former Principal of Family Welfare Inspector Training Institute and Member of Tender Evaluation Committee Dr. Parveen Haque Chowdhury, former Junior Consultant (Os / Gynaecology) of the Training Institute and Member-Tender Evaluation Committee Dr. Mahfuza Khatun, former Assistant Co-ordinator (Training and Research) and Member of Tender Evaluation Committee Dr. Chinmoy Kanti Das, former Medical Officer of Dhaka District Civil Surgeon's Office and Member of Tender Evaluation Committee ( now Deputy Director of Department of Health) Dr. Saiful Islam, Medical Officer (Children) of the Training Institute, Member of Market Price Verification Committee and Member Secretary of Tender Evaluation Committee Dr. Begum Mahfuza Dilara Akhter, Medical Officer of the Institute and President of Market Price Verification Committee Dr. Nazrina Begum, and former Administrative Officer of the same Training Institute and Member of Market Price Verification Committee Zahirul Islam ( currently working as Assistant Upazila Family Planning Officer in Nayakhali Sadar).
READ: Tk 850-cr missing: ACC questions mid-level officers at Ctg Custom House
Now state ‘backs corruption’: BNP
Criticizing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her remarks on the demolition of around 300 houses under the Ashrayan-2 Project, the BNP standing committee alleged that now “corruption is backed by the state”.
The Prime Minister’s remark on having the list of those who damaged the houses of gift is tantamount to backing the corruption of Awami League-backed contractors and partisan bureaucrats in the construction of houses under the Ashrayan-2 Project, BNP said.
At their weekly virtual meeting on Saturday, the BNP policymakers also said the Awami League government is giving corruption an “institutional shape” in all spheres of the state.
Read: BNP criticizes PM for her Ashrayan house remarks
“The meeting sharply criticised the Prime Minister's remarks (on the Ashrayan hoses),” said a press release on Sunday.
On Thursday, the Prime Minister alleged that some people damaged the houses, given by her government to the homeless as a gift for Mujib Borsho, with hammers and shovels and the media published photos of those broken houses.
Hasina said she has got the full details of the culprits, including their names and others, after an investigation.
The BNP standing committee members also strongly protested and denounced the gunning down of a Bangladeshi citizen, Shahibar Rahman, by Indian Border Security Force along the Dantbhanga border in Kurigram's Roumari upazila on September 4.
They alleged that it has never been possible to take effective action against all these killings due to the government’s "knee-jerk’’ foreign policy.
Read: BNP calls for simultaneous anti-govt movement
In no country in the civilized world, people are shot dead in this way along the border. It’s against international law, they observed.
The BNP standing committee meeting urged the government to take effective measures to force the Indian authorities to refrain from such heinous killings.
It also condemned the statement of State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Md Murad Hasan on removing the museum named after Ziaur Rahman at the old circuit house in Chattogram. “People will never accept such a decision.”
The meeting protested the recent arrest of opposition leaders and activists and demanded their immediate release after withdrawing all false cases filed against them.
PM talks tough against corruption by public servants
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said public servants will face tough punishment if anyone indulges in corruption.
“As we are providing various facilities, we will not tolerate any corruption,” she said.
The prime minister said this while speaking at a meeting with all secretaries of the public service.
Held at the NEC auditorium, the prime minister joined it from her official residence Ganobhaban.
She said the government wants to build a skilled, pro-service oriented and accountable administration which will accelerate the development of the country.
READ: Maintain Bangladesh's current development pace: PM to secretaries
“That will be much more effective as we want to establish good governance in the country,” she said.
Terming corruption a disease, Hasina laid emphasis on getting rid of the menace.
“You have to take stern action against it, whenever you see anyone indulging in corruption take immediate steps. There must be a reward for any good job, but punishment must be given for any involvement in corruption,” she said.
Talking about the coronavirus vaccines, the prime minister said the government has taken measurers to produce those in the country.
“Besides, we will procure whatever the amount of vaccines we need, we have taken the steps,” she said.
Hasina also emphasised theneed for reopening of the educational institutions and asked authorities concerned to take quick move regarding this.
“Not only universities, but also schools have to be reopened; this is the most important matter now, kids are suffering from mental pain staying at homes (for a long time), we have to give attention to this issue,” she said.
She asked secretaries to maintain the current pace of development in the country.
“We have to continue our activities so that Bangladesh could maintain its forward march in the future like it is doing now,” she said.
Hasina said the government has laid the foundation to take the country forward in the days to come.
Referring to the perspective plan and delta plan, "We have to make much progress in the future, we have taken that plan."
She asked the secretaries to make sure that all plans are implemented for the country’s development keeping the perspective plan and delta plan in mind.
READ: PM says her main goal is to fulfill Bangabandhu’s dream of building Sonar Bangla
Hasina said the prime task of the government is to provide a better life to people at the grassroots.
“People could get free from poverty, get a developed life, get a chance to avail of all the basic rights, including food, clothes, shelter, medicare and education,” she said.
Hasina asked all to work sincerely so that the Independence that came at the cost of blood of millions must not fail.
“We will take Bangladesh forward as a developed and prosperous country as we have we already attained the recognition as a developing country,” she said.
She thanked the secretaries for their sincerity and cooperation in working for the country and its people.
“What we need most is the mentality to work for the development of the country and change the fate of its people. You have that mentality and we got (that from you), as a result we have been able to advance the country,” Hasina said.
She asked the secretaries to take care of the development projects that the government has taken so that the country could maintain the economic development.
27 booked for duping govt of Tk 10.40cr
As many as 27 government employees have been booked by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for allegedly embezzling over Tk 10.40 crore by generating fake vouchers.
The case was lodged against the 27 officials, including three sub-inspectors (SI), on a complaint from the ACC's assistant director of the Jessore integrated district office, Mahfuz Iqbal.
Read: ACC seeks wealth information of Mosharraf's private secretary
The accused in the case are Satkhira Debhata Police Station SI Hasina Khatun, SI Md Sabur Alam Khan, Jessore Police Line SI Md Mahabub Alam, Magura Police Line retired SI Saifur Islam and former traffic SI Md Abdul Hai, and retired ASIs Md Atiyar Rahman and Shah Alam Gazi.
Others booked in the case include Magura District Police Line accountant Sharifuzzaman, Magura District accounting and finance officer GM Zillur Rahman, finance officers Saiful Islam and Sarkar Rafiqul Islam, and auditors of the same office -- Ajmal Hossain, Abdul Latif Mia, Fazlur Shahid and Sheikh Abdus Salam.
Magura District Police Line constables Gazi Mashiur Rahman, Firoz Hossain, Shipon Mridha, Taslima Khatun and Halima, retired constable Krishnapad Biswas, Akbar Ali and Abul Kashem, Narail resident Azmal Munsi, Magura resident Rokaiya Yasmin Bichitra and senior principal officer of Sonali Bank Wazed Ali, have also been named in FIR.
Read: ACC interrogates alleged accomplices of PK Halder at FFIL
According to the case details, the so-called General Provident Fund (GPF), lamp grant, deposit against supplies and work bill from the Magura police chief's office was not sent to the Magura District Accounts Office. But the accused officials embezzled over Tk 9 crore by issuing 81 account payable checks in the name of nine people.
In the same manner, the six retired policemen of Magura District Police Atiyar Rahman, Shah Alam Gazi, Khan Md. Abdul Hai, Krishnapad Biswas, Akbar Ali and Abul Kashem allegedly embezzled over Tk 76 lakh.
The case has been filed against the accused under Section 409/109 of the Penal Code, Section 5 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 and Section 4 (2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2012.
Barishal City Corporation dismisses 12 officials over corruption
Authorities at Barishal City Corporation sacked 12 officials over corruption charges, its public relation officer said Saturday.
The dismissal letters were sent to the officials on Thursday but Chief Executive Officer Sayed Faruque Hossain denied having any detailed information about the action.
Read: 'Red zones' in Barishal remain abuzz
Public relation officer Swapan Kumar Dash confirmed the news to UNB and said a media release will soon be issued in this regard soon.
The dismissed officers are chief health officer Dr Abdul Matin, executive engineer Humayun Kabir, assistant engineer of power division Kazi Monirul Islam, mechanical engineer Komol and Jahirul Islam, chief assessor Md Ajam, PR officer Md Romel, accountant Md Mainuddin, assets officer Mahbubur Rahman Shakil, legal assistant Rafikul Islam, office assistant Abdus Salam and Hayetul Islam.
Read: Corruption case: Former Barishal mayor gets seven-year
The affected officers claimed that no reason for dismissal was mentioned in the letters sent to them.
Abdus Salam, an assistant at accounts department, said the letter he received said three month’s salary has been credited but he didn’t receive any. Moreover his salary for the last 15 month is due with the BCC, he said.
Assistant engineer Kazi Monirul Islam said the suspension was done irregularly bringing false corruption charges against him.
The dismissed twelve officers were posted On Special Duty (OSD) from January 29, 2019.
According to the decision taken at a meeting of the fourth council on August 23, 2020, the twelve officials were dismissed permanently with three month salary paid, according to a letter signed by the chief executive officer of BCC.
Earlier on August 29, 2020, BCC also permanently suspended chief budget and accounting officer Md Moshiur Rahman, trade license superintendent Aziz Shahin, market superintendent Nurul Islam and deputy assistant engineer Abul Kalam Azad over corruption.
With this, 16 staff and officers lost their jobs at Barishal City Corporation for alleged involvement in corruption.