PM shows ‘zero tolerance’ against corruption: Quader

Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said the current government and its head Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina show ‘zero tolerance’ against corruption.

“The government is not embarrassed over Aziz and Benazir issues at all and it has the courage to bring all the corrupt persons to justice. Everyone would have to face justice. No criminal will be spared. The head of government is showing ‘zero tolerance’ against corruption,” he said.

The AL general secretary said this at a press conference held at AL President’s political office in city’s Dhanmondi.

Quader said the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is free on the issue of former IGP Benazir Ahmed and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given the freedom. Investigation is going on about his (Benzir) illegal properties, he added.

He said the ACC could carry investigation against former army chief Aziz Ahmed if he was involved in corruption. Every wrongdoer will be brought under justice, he added.

The AL general secretary said BNP is now making statements over Benazir. “But, I would like to ask them – ‘did they carry out any trial against Ashraful Huda or Rakibul Huda or SP Kahinur? Did BNP carry out any investigation against them?” he said.

He said Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina is well-known as an honest Prime Minister across the world. Honesty and hard work are the main reasons of her huge popularity in Bangladesh, he added.

He said the Awami League government is always ready to take actions against corruption. It is not a crash programme while the government has kept constant vigilance over corruption, he said.

“No criminals will be spared. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has proved it,” said Quader.

About the demand of BNP for changing government, the minister said there are two ways – mass upsurge and election– of changing the government. BNP couldn’t wage any mass movement as the mass people were not with them, he added.

He said BNP is now carrying out propaganda to hide their crimes. Any criminal didn’t get punishment during their regime, he said.

The minister said the court awarded nine years of imprisonment to Tarique Rahman at a case of ACC. The court also gave seven years of imprisonment and fined Taka 20 crore in a case of money laundering, he added.

Quader said the court has pronounced life-term imprisonment to Tarique in 21st grenade attack case. Now the nation is waiting to see execution of his punishment, he added. (BSS)