Corruption eats up Tk 70b a year, says Mashhud
Sunday, 6 January 2008
Bangladesh loses Tk 70 billion (7,000 crore) a year to corruption, Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury said Saturday, reports bdnews24.com.
"Had this money been used properly the nation would have progressed further," he said this, in his address, to elected representatives of the local government at a conference at the National Parade Square in the city.
"After taking the reins of the ACC, I have met and discussed with people of different positions. I came to know about reasons and extent of corruption. Corruption spreads mainly because of a lack of values. We have all united in our stance against corruption."
"Many blame our habits and poverty for corruption. And 70 per cent of our population is poor, but not everyone is corrupt," he added.
"We can't blame corruption on poverty. There is a psychological side to being corrupt. We must unite in our attempts to fight corruption. People's representatives are the biggest media through which we can raise awareness and start our anticorruption drive. For this to happen, all the representatives must contribute," he said.
"Due to the corruption by a few people, the country now stands as the number one corrupt nation. This is an embarrassment for us... The elected representatives and all of us must not tolerate corruption," he said.
"Had this money been used properly the nation would have progressed further," he said this, in his address, to elected representatives of the local government at a conference at the National Parade Square in the city.
"After taking the reins of the ACC, I have met and discussed with people of different positions. I came to know about reasons and extent of corruption. Corruption spreads mainly because of a lack of values. We have all united in our stance against corruption."
"Many blame our habits and poverty for corruption. And 70 per cent of our population is poor, but not everyone is corrupt," he added.
"We can't blame corruption on poverty. There is a psychological side to being corrupt. We must unite in our attempts to fight corruption. People's representatives are the biggest media through which we can raise awareness and start our anticorruption drive. For this to happen, all the representatives must contribute," he said.
"Due to the corruption by a few people, the country now stands as the number one corrupt nation. This is an embarrassment for us... The elected representatives and all of us must not tolerate corruption," he said.