The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Iqbal Mahmood has said the Banani fire tragedy is a result of irregularities and corruption in constructing the high-rise buildings.
He said this while speaking at the ACC Media Award 2018 giving ceremony at Shilpakala Academy in the city's Segunbagicha area on Sunday.
"It seems that everyone has turned irregularities into usual practices. We all have been stuck in this cycle. The tragic fire incident is a result of such anomalies."
Terming this type of anomalies as corruption, the ACC chief said, "Not working timely is a kind of graft. The commission has started battle against bribery and corruption, now it will start taking down such types of irregularities."
"You have got approval for constructing a building up to 17th floor, but it was built as a 22-storey building. The people who are responsible behind this will not be forgiven."
Expressing that juggling with people's lives will not be tolerated, he also said these people must be brought under the rule of law.
Mr Mahmood came up with these remarks following the death of 26 people in a devastating fire that broke out at the FR Tower in the city's Banani area on Thursday.
Besides, the ACC chairman said severe consequences await the corrupt people, who have illegally occupied government lands, rivers and general peoples' properties.
Many people have constructed rest-houses in the lands of various organisations like Forest Department, Bangladesh Railways, Public Works Department, and Roads and Highways Department etc, he noted.
"Return the lands to their respective owners, otherwise you will have to face stern actions," he added.
On the occasion, ACC awarded four journalists in two categories - print and electronic - for their investigative reports on different graft incidents.
Daily Prothom Alo senior reporter Fakhrul Islam Harun got the first prize in print media category, while Daily Samakal special correspondent Hakikot Zahan got the second prize.
In electronic media category, Maasranga Television special correspondent Badruddoza Babu and Channel 71 senior reporter Parvez Nadir Reza won the first and second prize respectively.
The value of the first prize was Tk 50,000, and the second prize was worth Tk 40,000.
Former caretaker government adviser Rasheda K Choudhury, ACC commissioners Mozammel Haque Khan and A F M Aminul Islam, and ACC secretary Dilwar Bakht also spoke at the programme.
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