Search for source of wealth begins

Drive against wealthy govt officials soon

Mahfuja Mukul: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced the start of campaign against corruption. As part of this, the Prime Minister’s Office has asked rich and wealthy officials working in government departments including the administration, police to inquire about the sources of wealth. In particular, intelligence agencies have been instructed to find and list rich officials who were or are working in important government offices. They have even been asked to inquire about their close relatives who are rich and wealthy. This information is known from a responsible source of the government.
There is a lot of discussion about the acquisition of huge property of some former and current high-ranking officials of the government. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is investigating them. Pointing to that, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said in the National Parliament, “We have launched an anti-corruption operation, no matter who it is, no one is safe from corruption.” Whoever commits corruption, I will catch.’ After such a statement by the head of government, necessary instructions were given to the relevant government departments and intelligence agencies from his office. But no one in charge agreed to talk about the matter.
When asked to know, Public Administration Minister Farhad Hossain told in his office yesterday, “I have not yet received any instructions regarding making such a list.” However, the Prime Minister gave a stern warning to the Parliament on Saturday saying that there is no escape from corruption. Whoever commits corruption, they will be found and punished.
Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed is one of the few former and present government officials and their family members who have been found to have assets worth hundreds of crores of taka. Benazir left the country with his family immediately after the ACC investigation process started. The government has attached various assets in the name of Benazir and his family members on the orders of the court. Soon after the incident, huge wealth was found in the name of National Revenue Board officer Matiur Rahman and his family members. ACC has started investigating the corruption allegations against him. Apart from this, it has been reported that NBR’s First Secretary (Tax) Kazi Abu Mahmud Faisal is accused of having anonymous assets. In the meantime, the court has ordered to freeze all his assets. The uproar started all over the country. In such a situation, the Prime Minister’s Office has asked the working and former officials in various departments of the government to inquire about the sources of wealth.
In this regard, Cabinet Secretary Md. Mahbub Hossain said that no sympathy will be shown to the corrupt officials of the government. Not everyone commits corruption. Action is being taken when those who are doing corruption come to the attention of the government. The whole mechanism of the government is taking action against corruption. There is no precedent of the government letting anyone go after corruption is proven.