He made the observation at a seminar titled "Rule of Law to Establish a Corruption Free Society". The monthly Legal Aid organised the discussion at the CIRDAP auditorium.

"My view is that along with addressing the corrupt person upon due enforcement of law, let there be social abhorrence and disapproval of corruption, and private as well as community disassociation of the corrupts," said chief of the country's apex court.

Editor of Monthly Legal Aid Khawja Golam Murshed presided over the inaugural session that was attended among others by Japanese Ambassador in Dhaka Masayuki Inoue, Country Director of the Asian Development Bank Hua Du, Chargé d'Affaires of the European Commission delegation Francoise Collet, Resident Legal Adviser of the US Embassy Nancy Langston, and former attorney general AF Hassan Ariff.

Mentioning some laws including the penal code and the anti-corruption acts, the chief justice said, "There are some other laws also relating to prevention of corruption. But still then corruption has rooted itself firmly in every sphere of society as well as in every stage of life.

"Laws have been enacted providing punishment of corrupt persons but same would not go long way in curbing corruption since application of law is delayed or same is not at all applied or enforced in a manner to screen the desired one who ought to have brought within the net of law."

Justice Amin said, "Soft application of law relating to corruption at different levels by the government and the institutions entrusted with or responsible for administration and enforcement of law to some beneficiaries of corruption on lame excuse is no less responsible for corruption."

This aspect and other problems need immediate remedial measure, he said adding that individuals or institutions entrusted with the task to deal with corruption had been soft at times for no reason and brought on such a difficult situation.

"Corruption that prevails in present volume in all sphere of life is just because of the steps we took without any justification or reason or for some consideration which should not be in any way considered while dealing with corruption," he noted.

Masayuki Inoue in his speech said, "Democracy should be a basis of the rule of law. So it is necessary for Bangladesh to overcome this emergency situation and return to the democratic process to establish a real rule of law for making corruption-free society."

Welcoming the Election Commission's roadmap to hold the next general election by December 2008, he said he hopes the country will return to the democratic process through a free, fair and credible election. If the preparations are completed earlier, the government would better hold the polls before the announced time.

Masayuki said though a state of emergency is not favourable to democracy; it has presented a rare opportunity here to eradicate the corruption menace.

He pointed out that mass arrests cannot solve the problem if the people keep lacking the spirit to abide by the law.

The ambassador said that besides stern actions against a law violator regardless of his/her position, the government and the law enforcement authorities have to respect due process of law, otherwise they would lose their accountability to the people.

Chief of ADB resident mission Hua Du said, "There are still many challenges to the governance setting in the country including the poor law and order situation as well as the embedded systematic corruption. This situation limits the vast potential development of the country."

Emphasising the need for a credible, impartial and effective judiciary and other law enforcement agencies, she said, "Poor law and order situation and rampant bribe and corruption practices flourish mainly due to the weak law enforcement apparatus."

Francoise Collet said, "The Election Commission is pleased to support the Police Reform Project, which under the present government is now beginning to show signs of having been galvanised by effective leadership and ownership, both within the government and the police service."

The seminar was followed by a working session with Justice Mohammad Fazlul Karim of Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in the chair. Justice Habibur Rahman Khan submitted the keynote paper.