Bring order to edu, banking sectors

Treasury and opposition lawmakers yesterday in parliament asked the government to stop irregularities and mismanagement in the banking and education sectors to uphold the image of the government.

“Due to the mismanagement and irregularities in the banking and education sectors, we face an embarrassing situation,” said ruling Awami League MP Mahbubul Alam Hanif while speaking on the thanksgiving motion on the president's speech.

“We hope that the authorities concerned will take measures in addressing such irregularities immediately,” he said.

Hanif, also a joint general secretary of AL, said the government has achieved success in various sectors. “But some failures have made the achievements questionable among the people.”

Regarding BNP's threat of waging movements to free its chief Khaleda Zia, Hanif said such threats would not yield any positive result. “Instead of issuing threats, you better take legal measures to free her,” he said.

Hanif also advised the BNP leaders to drop Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman, who were convicted in a corruption case, from the party.

“…only then people may accept you…,” he added.

Earlier, speaking on the motion, main opposition Jatiya Party MP Fakhrul Imam criticised the government for its failure to prevent question paper leaks.

Mentioning irregularities in the banking sector, he said the financial and banking sectors are facing a serious crisis. “Loans are being provided with political considerations,” he said, adding that the bank has now turned into a “family affair”. The lawmaker alleged that instead of importing goods through a letter of credit, the whole amount had been laundered abroad. He said the Farmers Bank's former chairman had appointed most of the employees from his area. “If the appointment is given through nepotism, then how that bank will work against loan irregularities.”

He also said, “We are not getting uninterrupted electricity. Power outage still persists, though the state minister [for power] does not acknowledge it.”