Corruption takes an alarming turn: BNP

FE Team | Published: February 01, 2019 00:12:46

A BNP senior leader alleged on Thursday that corruption has now taken a devastating turn in the country, but the media are unable to publish reports on the malpractice due to the government's control, reports UNB.
BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi made the comments while speaking at a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office in the city.
He also said Information Minister Hasan Mahmud rejected the report of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on corruption only to hide facts.
"The information minister has said the TIB's report was accurate during the BNP's rule, but now it is giving imaginary report...not only the country's people, but also the international community get surprised when he comes up with such information," the BNP leader said.
He further said, "The information minister is giving wrong information about the TIB report only to protect his portfolio. Actually, corruption has reached a terrible level and taken a serious turn, but all the information is not being made public as the media are now controlled".
According to the TIB report unveiled on Tuesday, Bangladesh ranks the second most corrupt country in South Asia, only ahead of war-torn Afghanistan. Its global position is 149th out of 180 countries surveyed last year, which is 13th from the bottom.
Rejecting the TIB report, Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday claimed the report was motivated and faulty.
Rizvi said Global Financial Integrity presented a report on Monday about siphoning off money from Bangladesh.
According to the report, he said around Tk 500 billion was siphoned off the country only in 2018. "Awami League leaders and high government officials laundered the money. So, the Information Minister can't hide the truth with falsehood through the media."
The BNP leader alleged Awami League after forming the new government through 'fake voting' has brought the legislative, judiciary and the executive branches of the sate under the same centre. "The balance of state power is now in the state to collapse anytime."