People with clout engage in corruption
Observing that everybody is indirectly involved in graft, Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday stressed the need for applying modern technologies to check graft in the country as technologies create a lot of scope for preventing the social menace.
"The optimum use of technologies will help reduce corruption ... there's a big scope to minimise corruption in different sectors, including public procurement, by using technologies," he said while addressing the inaugural session of the Anti-Corruption Commission's hotline service at its head office in the capital.
Mentioning that the people who have power are involved in corruption, the finance minister said everybody is indirectly involved in graft. "Corruption is in our blood ... we've got bogged down in this menace."
Noting that people often are forced to get involved in corruption, Muhith said, "There was no culture of corruption in Bangladesh in the past. Once it used to take place in secret...it was a matter of shame. But, now it happens openly."
He said a former ACC chairman had announced crusade against corruption, but failed to bring any change. "Well, you must investigate but don't be a jihadist as it destroys the quality of investigation," he told the ACC investigation officers.
Muhith observed that the government employees are now changing their mindsets to keep themselves away from graft. "I hope a positive change will come over the next eight to 10 years in this regard."
Speaking on the occasion, ACC Chairman Iqbal Mahmood said corruption is a big problem for the country and that is why the ACC launched a hotline so that people can lodge their complaints dialling 106 from their phones free of cost.
"People can directly communicate with the Commission through the hotline and we can take action immediately as per their allegations," he added.
Earlier, Muhith inaugurated the ACC hotline by making a phone call to the ACC's Complaint Centre dialling 106.
ACC Commissioners Dr Md Nasir Uddin Ahmed and AFM Aminul Islam and its secretary Abu M Mustafa Kamal, among others, were present on the occasion.
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