Special Correspondent

The prime minister has announced a tough stance against corruption amid widespread debate across the country over the illegal assets of former Inspector General of Police (IGP), two current officials of the National Board of Revenue.

A highly placed source and one of her advisers told this correspondent that in the first phase, action will be taken against at least 40 corrupt persons in the next six months. Illegally acquired wealth will be brought to light. Action will be taken not only against bureaucrats or members of various forces but also against politicians.

Various attempts have been made to find out who is in this list of 40 people but could not be found out. Moreover, the government officials involved in this process do not want the identity of the people to be revealed. It is learned that the process of taking action against the corrupt will continue throughout the tenure of the government. The anti-corruption stance of the government will be tougher next year.
Those two sources also said that the prime minister wants to rid the party of corruption along with the government.

According to several government and party sources, former IGP Benazir Ahmed, National Board of Revenue (NBR) member Matiur Rahman (later transferred to Internal Resources Department of Finance Ministry), NBR First Secretary (Tax) Kazi Abu Mahmud Faisal's corruption information is part of the anti-corruption campaign of the government. .

They said, Bangabandhu's daughter thinks that some corrupt politicians are fading the tradition of sacrifice and ideology politics of Awami League. Now it has gone to an unbearable level.

Another source close to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told the correspondent that the government has not decided to identify the corrupt in a day, a week or a month and take action against them. Because it is kept in mind that if everyone is caught together, it will create instability in the government. That is why the anti-corruption campaign will be carried out step by step throughout the tenure of the government.

In this context, Awami League presidium member Kazi Zafarullah told the correspondent that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's 'top priority' is to bring corruption to a tolerable level. Efforts will be made to eliminate the corrupt gradually. He said that Sheikh Hasina followed zero tolerance policy against corruption from the beginning. Sometimes it is disrupted. After coming to power in this period, he thought that the fight against corruption is now the demand of the people.

However, Awami League's central positions and several responsible leaders of the Trinamool have also expressed doubts that the ongoing campaign to rid the government and the party of corruption may ultimately fail. They told Desh Parvanwar that numerous initiatives have been taken in the last 15 years. But implementation remains incomplete. Due to being in power for a long time, several 'pressure groups' have been created within the party.
A member of the editorial board of Awami League told the correspondent that this pressure group not only hinders the work that will be good for the party, but also creates complications in efforts to brighten the image of the government.

A member of the party's presidium claims that the biggest power of this 'pressure group' is money. They earned money through legal and illegal means. With the power of this money, the party and the government have become entrenched.

It has been revealed that due to totalitarian corruption, the top level leaders of Awami League think that the existence of the party has gone to the point of dissolution. The head of government fears that this corruption will question all his achievements at the time of his farewell. Therefore, the Prime Minister has taken a strict stance to curb corruption. This time Awami League President Sheikh Hasina has decided to identify the corrupt officials and leaders of the government and the party and take action against them.

It is known that the corrupt will be stripped of their rank. Even those who are promoted under their rule, this action will be taken. Apart from this, the Awami League president has plans to do some other work in this term to remove the mess from the party. But what exactly that plan is, is not known.

According to a responsible source, to make the anti-corruption measures effective, the party's current and former Members of Parliament (MPs) who are involved in corruption will not be exempted. However, while doing these things, care will be taken to ensure that there is no instability in the government. Because of that, several leaders associated with Awami League politics may also be caught in the anti-corruption campaign.

A member of the presidium of Awami League told the correspondent on the condition of anonymity that after 2014, the politics of Awami League went under the control of 'pressure group'. Capitalizing on the turbulent times of the government, the party replaced political leaders and installed their followers. In the election of people's representatives, the political leaders have been excluded and the rich have been installed. They have strengthened the politics of money. Practicing ideology-sacrificing politics has alienated leaders from politics.

This important leader of Awami League claims that the culture of corruption has started in Awami League due to the strengthening of money politics. He said that party's renegade politicians are also inclined towards corruption. They have rushed towards corruption with an idea that money is everything. As a result, the organization has weakened throughout the country in 15 years. Being in power, the weak image of the organization is not felt all over the country. Cannot be understood.

Taking an example of the weak image of the organization, a member of the editorial board of Awami League told the correspondent that the presence of leaders and workers in the discussion meeting of the founding anniversary of Awami League on June 23 indicates the organizational crisis. He claimed that the organizers have to be worried about the presence of the leaders and activists if they want to hold these events. Moreover, factionalism, chaos and infighting within the party across the country also show the weakness of the party.

When asked about this, Tangail District Awami League President Fazlur Rahman Farooq told thus correspondent that there is an unequal political situation within the Awami League throughout the country. Politicians with money made it unequal. They are afraid of the Awami League leaders and activists. These leaders with money do their politics of 'suppression'. He thinks that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's stand against corruption will give Awami League a bright image.

Two senior leaders of Awami League close to Sheikh Hasina told the correspondent that anti-corruption public opinion has been created. The ongoing initiative against corruption will continue to cash in on this public opinion. The head of government and the party president think that curbing corruption should be one of the goals of the government during this period.

These two leaders also said that the prime minister feels that it will not be right to abandon the development and clean image of his government. Earlier, due to various shaky situations, he was unable to rein in corruption, but now after coming to power, the Prime Minister has decided not to make any concessions. The attitude of the head of government is that no matter how hostile the situation may be, he will not move away from his strict anti-corruption position.

They said that although the Awami League government took over the responsibility of running the country for the second time by declaring a 'zero tolerance policy' against corruption, the government was somewhat lax after 2014. Because of which corruption has become rampant and the image of the government and the party has been tarnished.

Awami League Presidium Member Dr Mustafa Jalal Mohiuddin told this correspondent, "During this term, the party will involve more people." The government will also work on priority basis for the development of the country and the people. He said that certain initiatives will be visible in the future.