Transfer-dismissal-retirement not enough for corruption charges: TIB



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
ছবি: বার্তা ২৪

ছবি: বার্তা ২৪

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Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has commented that no departmental system including transfer, dismissal, compulsory retirement of public employees on corruption charges is sufficient, in some cases it encourages corruption.

The organization called for exemplary punishment by bringing the employees of the Republic under trial in the legal process applicable in all other cases.

According to media sources, some officers of the National Board of Revenue and Police have been transferred or forced to retire due to corruption allegations. TIB's Executive Director said that it is a promising first step as a departmental step. Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said, it has been established as a normality to limit the taking of departmental measures such as transfer, dismissal or compulsory retirement when there is a complaint of corruption against an employee of the Republic. The criteria for effective accountability and deterrence of corruption are far from sufficient. Crimes such as corruption are more likely to be transferred and spread through transfers and spread to other employees. It further encourages corruption by promoting the perception that corrupt officials of the republic do not face punishment under the existing laws of the land.

By amending the existing government employee (discipline and appeal) rules at various times, a kind of protection has been given to the employees of the republic, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said it is also a clear violation of the Constitution to end the liability against public servants for corruption by taking only departmental action.

He said that according to Article 27 of the Constitution, all citizens are equal before the law. But by restricting the punishment of public servants on charges of corruption to transfer, dismissal and retirement only, it serves as a catalyst for the development of corruption in the public sector as well as in other sectors. Exemplary punishment should also be ensured in the case of public officials accused of corruption by bringing them under investigation and trial in the usual legal process of the country applicable in all other cases.

Pointing out that there is no opportunity to politically avoid the responsibility of public employees in recent cases of corruption, the Executive Director of TIB said that although some of the leaders of the ruling party have acknowledged the issue of institutionalized corruption, many of them are trying to place the responsibility of this corruption on government employees only. But there is no denying that this high-level corruption is not possible without political patronage and collusion in many cases.

On the other hand, one of the reasons for the deficiency in corruption control is the party political influence in the concerned institutions, the responsibility of which the political leadership cannot avoid. He thinks that even though the government has repeatedly talked about the zero tolerance policy against corruption, it is the responsibility of the political leadership to move away from the idea that it is only an empty talks.

Early warnings do not reach flood-hit people



Kollol Roy, Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Kurigram
Photo: Barta24.com

Photo: Barta24.com

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Ibat Ali is a resident of Char Dakshin Baladoba Char of Begumganj Union of Ulipur Upazila of Kurigram. As the water in the Brahmaputra river has risen, the water has already reached the rice paddies of his living room. Even if 4 cows are kept in a dune, water has risen in that dune as a result of the continuous increase of water in the last 3 days. He was looking for a boat to take the cows to another place for the last two days. 3 days the cows have been under knee deep water and their legs have started to rot. On Wednesday (July 3) afternoon, on the way to hire a boat to keep the cows in the nearby bazaar, he was saying, 'I thought the water would not rise as much as last time. But it is not possible to stay at home due to the rising water for 3 days. We don't know when the water will rise or fall. Sometimes I listen when I go to the market.

Ibat Ali is not alone. Flood early warning does not reach most of the thousands of families in Kurigram's flood-affected Char area. When the water in the river started to rise in the grazing areas, the communication system was cut off. Due to the lack of boats, most of the families have to rely on other people's boats. Or you have to do urgent work with a boat with a higher rent. Mobile phones cannot be charged due to power outage. Flood affected people have to survive with limited communication even for urgent needs. Char people also have fewer tendencies to go to the local market every day. Everyone has an urge to go to market twice a week and return home quickly in daylight. So many people don't even get a chance to look at the TV in the market.

On Wednesday, Barta 24.com Correspondent visited some wild grasses in Begumganj Union. Along with various crises, many also regret not getting early warning of floods. They said that the damage would have been a little less if the water rise had been reported a few days before the flood. Cattle in particular could be kept safely on high ground.

Montu Mia of Batuatuli Musar Char said, "I have not received the government's announcement." I went to the market, take what I see on TV in the tea shop. I don't go to the market every day. I go for a walk two days a week. I saw the news on TV that the water is raising. But it was not known that it would increase so much. Some items were washed away. A few chickens died. If I had known earlier, I would have left it at a relative's house.

The local administration gives instructions to the local public representatives to convey information to the people on an urgent basis during the flood situation. Begumganj Union Chairman Bablu Mia said, 'Regular updates are delivered to our UP members. Also, we relay information to disaster response committees, village-based volunteers. I will find out why the information does not reach the people of Char area.

Saidul Arif, Deputy Commissioner of Kurigram, said, "The local administration (at the Union level) cannot avoid the responsibility of not reaching the flood-affected people on time. It is a collective work. There is no shortage of information. We will work on how to deliver information through coordination.

Due to heavy rains and upstream flow, the water level of Brahmaputra river in Kurigram has exceeded the mark. At 6 pm on Wednesday at Chilmari and Nunkhawa points, the water of this river flowed 34 cm and 32 cm above the danger level respectively. As a result of the continuous rise in water, thousands of people in some upazilas have been flooded in the lower areas of its basin. The water of Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers is increasing. In this situation, flood situation has arisen in the lower part of the district. New areas are being flooded.

Disaster management and relief wing of the district said that about 320 square kilometers area of Kurigram has been flooded. 404 shelters are operational for flood victims. So far 61 metric tons of rice, 2 thousand 967 packets of dry food and cash of Tk. 3 lakh 90 thousand have been distributed. 83 medical teams are deployed for emergency health care.

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Zia-Khaleda-Ershad brought nothing to the country: PM



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
Zia-Khaleda-Ershad brought nothing to the country: PM

Zia-Khaleda-Ershad brought nothing to the country: PM

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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina alleged that BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia, Jatiya Party's Hussain Muhammad Ershad could not bring anything for the country during their visit to India.

Highlighting the diplomatic failure of the parties, she said that after the coming of the Awami League government, India-Bangladesh's 30-year Ganges water agreement, enclave exchange and the three-bigha corridor were opened. But Khaleda Zia, General Ershad and Ziaur Rahman could not solve all these problems.

She said all this in the closing speech of the JS session on Wednesday (July 3). Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury presided over the session.

Expressing anger in response to the criticism of the Prime Minister's visit to India from various quarters, she said, "I see some people have raised various issues about my visit to India." After returning to the country after six years in 1981, the same was heard (sale of the country to India). Now don't know why that broken record started playing.

Referring to the reason for not being able to come to power in 2001, the Awami League president said, "We did not get more seats in 2001 even though we got more votes because we did not want to sell gas." That's why I could not form the government. Because I didn't want to sell gas. So who sells the country? Khaleda Zia has done it, Ershad Sahib has done it. Ziaur Rahman did. They have done it, the Awami League does not.

The Prime Minister said, Ziaur Rahman opened our market for Indian products. 40 products are granted duty-free entry. In 1980, he also signed a contract for the sale of gas. Khaleda Zia went to India in 1992. Article 11 of the Joint Manifesto there acknowledges massive infiltration into India from Bangladesh. Then the push in started. Many of our people suffered there. We also demanded in the parliament to withdraw this article, but it was not heeded.

The head of government alleged that BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia, Jatiya Party's Hussain Muhammad Ershad's visit to India could not bring anything for the country. Highlighting the diplomatic failure of the parties, she said that after the coming of the Awami League government, India-Bangladesh's 30-year Ganges water agreement, enclave exchange and teen bigha corridors were opened. But Khaleda Zia, General Ershad and Ziaur Rahman could not solve all these problems.

Awami League president said, democracy is being talked about. Until now, democracy was imprisoned in the cantonment. There was a curfew all night. After the formation of the Awami League government, democratic rights returned to the people. People are voting for us, we are winning. I hear about torture. Which of our leaders and workers were left from torture during Zia, Ershad and Khaleda Zia? She said, everyone is talking, holding public meetings, marching, giving speeches. We have opened up radio and television to the private sector. I am doing talk shows as I wish. We are not holding anyone's face; we are not holding anyone's throat. Let him say whatever he can. We are running the state, working for the welfare of the people.

Responding to the criticism of bureaucrats from various quarters, the Prime Minister said, many blame our government officials. But I have seen the sincerity of the very young people (officials) during the Asryan project, their eagerness to work, that really gives me hope. Everyone worked with heart and soul. Such dedicated workers are needed to move this country forward. We need such officers.

The Prime Minister said, I have nothing to lose. There is nothing to gain. My only goal is to improve the country by providing food, education, medical care and shelter to every people of Bangladesh. That's what I want to do. We are moving forward. We will build a smart Bangladesh. At the same time, we will continue the activities to improve the fate of the people of Bangladesh. That's why I want everyone's help. Let us have more success in our new journey. Bangladesh will advance at an unstoppable speed. The people of Bangladesh will get a better and better life.

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Secretaries meeting at 4:30, good governance will get importance



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
Secretaries meeting at 4:30, good governance will get importance

Secretaries meeting at 4:30, good governance will get importance

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Cabinet division has convened a meeting of the Secretaries. The meeting will be held on Thursday (July 4) at 4:30 pm in the Cabinet Room of the Secretariat. A letter has already been sent to the secretaries of all the ministries from the cabinet Division to attend the meeting.

Cabinet Secretary Md. Mahbub Hossain will preside over the meeting. Four issues including morality and good governance have been put on the agenda of the meeting.

It is said that various instructions may be given to the Secretaries in the meeting regarding the ongoing situation and contemporary issues. Apart from this, directions may also come on the issue of corruption allegations by some government employees.

This year's Secretary meeting is considered important for many reasons. In recent times, government employees have been criticized for irregularities and corruption. Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed, National Board of Revenue officer Matiur Rahman and several other government officials have been exposed in the media.

Good governance is one of the agenda items in Thursday's Secretary meeting. According to the sources concerned, strict instructions may be given to the Secretaries regarding corruption in the meeting.

Four agendas have been set for the Secretaries meeting. They are integrity, good governance, election manifesto implementation and budget implementation.

There will be instructions for the secretaries to take action plans from the beginning of the year so that the budget for the financial year 2024-25 is implemented properly. Apart from this, a Secretary told a media that contemporary issues may be discussed in various discussions.

This will be the second Secretarial meeting of the current government after the Awami League came to power for the third consecutive term after winning the January 7 national elections. Earlier, the first meeting was held on February 5. At present there are 84 Secretaries.

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India has no objection to PM's visit to China: Foreign Minister



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
photo: Collected

photo: Collected

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Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmood has commented that India has no objection to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to China.

The Foreign Minister made this comment while talking to reporters after inaugurating the academy's journal, smart library and website at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital on Wednesday (July 3) afternoon.

Expressing the hope of moving forward by maintaining good relations with neighboring India, Hasan Mahmud said, "Our foreign policy is friendship with all, not enmity with anyone. We want to move the country forward by maintaining good relations with everyone.

He said that the Prime Minister visited India a few days ago. That visit was very fruitful. During the visit, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the visit to China.

He also said that China is our major development partner country. In our infrastructure development, many iconic structures including the Bangabandhu Tunnel, Padma Bridge, etc. have taken Chinese money and manpower. So the next visit is definitely very important. This visit is important to accelerate the development journey that China has been playing in our development journey for so long.

In response to the question whether there will be any new agreement during the visit to China, the foreign minister said that it has not been finalized yet. It's not time to tell yet.

When asked if India had any objection to visit China, he said, India never had any objection. When we discussed the Rohingya issue, China's role was discussed. Then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, I am going to China, I will discuss the matter there. This is how the matter came about.

He said that the relationship with Saudi Arabia is not only limited to the export of workers, it is multi-dimensional. Saudi Arabia wants to invest in Bangladesh; they will invest in the Special Economic Zone.

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