corruption
Will protest corruption and speak up for the oppressed in the Parliament: Barrister Sumon
Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Sumon, who has been elected as an independent candidate from Habiganj-4 constituency, said that he will protest corruption and speak up for the oppressed in the Parliament, the same way he has been doing so far.
He said this after taking oath as an MP at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban at 11:30 am today (January 10, 2024).
Also read: Barrister Sumon crushes incumbent state minister for civil aviation and tourism
“My role will remain the same as before. Protesting against corruption, speaking up for oppressed people and realising Bangabandhu’s Sonar Bangla,” Barrister Sumon said.
When asked what challenges he might face, he said, “Not one or two. No one wants to work in Bangladesh. Still, if Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina considers me, I will be able to do a lot of work,” he said.
Also read: Newly elected MPs are sworn in by Speaker
“You’re only an MP for five years. If I perform poorly, people will throw me out,” he said.
Barrister Sumon thinks that he has been given a responsibility by the people for five years.
Nasir Hossain barred from domestic cricket amid ICC’s corruption allegations
All-rounder Nasir Hossain has been temporarily prohibited from participating in domestic cricket following allegations of corruption by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Sources within the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have confirmed that Nasir must await ICC clearance before resuming his domestic cricket career.
The players' draft for the upcoming season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is slated for September 24th. However, Nasir's name does not appear on the list of players released by the BCB.
HC accepts appeal challenging suspension order of DSA case against Nasir’s wife Tamima
The right-handed all-rounder participated in a T20 league in the UAE in 2021, where he, along with other players, allegedly engaged in unethical practices, according to the ICC.
Case against cricketer Nasir: Order on charge framing on Feb 9
Nasir Hossain’s last international match dates back to 2018, after which he has been absent from the national squad. He represented the Tigers in a total of 19 Tests, 65 ODIs, and 31 T20Is.
Cricketer Nasir, wife Tamima get bail
Sanctions, freezing assets, giving partner nations intel can be tools to fight corruption: US State Dept
The United States has encouraged Bangladesh to “root out corrupt actors,” operating within its borders “fairly and impartially.”
“Generally speaking, sanctions can be a tool to fight corruption,” US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters in a regular briefing in Washington on August 8.
He said they have other tools as well, such as freezing assets and giving partner nations information so they can prosecute cases.
Read: US prioritizing global anti-corruption efforts, to focus on business aspects in future: US official tells foreign secretary
Responding to a question on demand for free and fair election, Miller said they have made it clear several times that the US supports free and fair elections in Bangladesh.
“We’ve made that clear publicly. We’ve made that clear in conversations with the Bangladeshi Government, and that will continue to be our policy,” he said.
The US Department of State’s Coordinator on Global Anti-Corruption, Richard Nephew, echoed the same regarding sanctions to address corruption during his Bangladesh visit on August 6-8.
Read: Bangladesh can draw more investment if corruption remains less prevalent: Peter Haas
During his visit, Nephew met government officials, businesspersons, and civil society leaders to discuss how to fight the scourge of corruption.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, after his meeting with Nephew, said that Bangladesh laid emphasis on more transparency and accountability over issues involving money laundering, noting that in most cases Bangladesh does not get required feedback when it comes to mutual legal assistance.
Read: Public Service Commission was plagued by corruption, depriving meritorious candidates during BNP-Jamaat govt: Sajeeb Wazed
The US has invited Bangladesh to attend the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention Against Corruption in Atlanta in December this year. The foreign secretary said Bangladesh will take part in the meeting where the host US will seek renewed commitment from the participating countries or institutions to jointly tackle global corruption.
WB had brought false allegations against Bangladesh govt, PM tells JS
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday (June 7, 2023) said that the World Bank has realised that they had brought false allegations against the government of Bangladesh regarding corruption in the Padma Bridge project.
“The World Bank has realised that they brought false allegations against us,” she said while responding to a tabled question from Jatiya Party MP elected from Dhaka Syed Abu Hossain.
With reference to her recent visit in the World Bank’s headquarters in Washington DC, Hasina said that during a discussion there, she once again expressed her resentment regarding the World Bank’s purposely bringing false allegations of corruption in the Padma Bridge construction project.
“ (In my speech) I firmly mentioned that I will never patronise any evil purpose, which will diminish the dignity of the people of Bangladesh,” she said.
Read more: External forces won’t put BNP in power, they would rather use it against govt: PM Hasina
In reply to a query of Awami League MP Kazim Uddin, the Prime Minister informed the House that the amount of foodgrains stocked in the country at present (as of May) in the country is 16.27 lakh tonnes.
“Of the total foodgrains, the amount of rice is 12.25 lakh tonnes, wheat is 3.96 lakh tonnes and paddy is 9,000 tonnes,” she said.
Hasina, also the Leader of the House, said in the current boro season, a total of 15.10 lakh tonnes of foodgrains including 4 lakh tonnes of rice and 12.50 lakh tonnes of rice have been set as a target to increase the food stock.
The domestic wheat procurement target has been set at 1 lakh tonnes for the financial year 2022-23.
Read more: PM Hasina remembers Bangabandhu on historic six-point day
The Prime Minister said that 6.34 lakh tonnes of rice and 6.80 lakh tonnes of wheat have been imported in the current financial year so far (as of 23 May, 2023) to ensure maximum food security in the country.
In response to a query from Awami League MP Ali Azam, Hasina said that ‘Geological Survey and Seismic Survey’ activities have been strengthened in new areas of the country.
While replying to a query of JP MP Mashiur Rahman Ranga, the Prime Minister said that Bangladesh will not get duty-free and quota-free benefits for exporting goods to India after 2026 as a result of its removal from the list of least developed countries.
“This may have a negative impact on the export of goods to India,” she added.
Read more: Electricity problem to end in 10-15 days: PM Hasina
Taking this into consideration, initiatives have been taken to execute the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India, the premier said.
“It is still in the negotiation stage. If CEPA is signed, Bangladesh's exports to India are likely to increase by 190 percent. It is expected to increase the GDP by 1.72 percent,” she hoped.
In response to a query of AL MP Momtaz Begum, the premier said that currently there are 1.20 crore expatriates working in 174 countries of the world.
Read more: PM mourns death of valiant freedom fighter Nurul Islam Khan
Indonesian IT minister arrested for alleged corruption in procurement
Indonesian authorities on Wednesday arrested the information technology minister as part of an investigation into a million-dollar corruption scandal linked to the construction of mobile phone transmission towers in remote regions.
Communication and Information Technology Minister Johnny G. Plate was arrested after showing up for questioning at the Attorney General’s Office, said Kuntadi, the director of investigation at the prosecutor's office.
If he is formally charged, it may further tarnish President Joko Widodo’s credibility when it comes to fighting corruption. Four other members of Widodo’s Cabinet have been sentenced to prison terms in corruption cases, casting a shadow over his efforts to clean up government while he looks for a successor when his term ends in 2024.
Footage showed Plate leaving the prosecutor's office in handcuffs and wearing a detainee red vest. He did not respond to journalists' questions.
This was the third time Plate was summoned since mid-February by investigators digging deep into his supervisory role in allocation of state funds for the construction of base transceiver stations, said Kuntadi, who goes by a single name like many Indonesians.
The project was initiated at the end of 2020 to handle more than 7,900 blank spots in mobile coverage in Indonesia’s outermost, underdeveloped and remote areas of Papua, Sulawesi, Borneo, Sumatra and East Nusatenggara. It's due to be completed this year, and so far, 4,200 locations have received the equipment, the ministry’s data showed.
The corruption case is believed to have cost the state 8 trillion rupiah ($539 million), said Muhammad Yusuf Ateh, head of the development finance control at the prosecutor's office. He said the losses included fictitious payments for the base stations that have not been built.
Plate was apprehended along with five other suspects, including three from the private sector, after some 60 people were questioned about the procurement process.
His arrest also sparked speculation over the fate of his Nasdem party, which is part of the government coalition with seven others. Nasdem had earlier endorsed a popular opposition politician, Anies Baswedan, as a presidential candidate in 2024. Widodo has referred to the party as an “outsider” in the coalition.
Former French President Sarkozy loses appeal on corruption conviction; prison sentence upheld
A French appeals court on Wednesday upheld a one-year prison sentence for former President Nicolas Sarkozy on a conviction for corruption and influence peddling.
His lawyer said he will take the case to France’s highest court and insisted that Sarkozy is innocent. The 68-year-old ex-president would not have to serve time until a final ruling, and if definitively convicted, he could ask to serve his sentence at home.
Sarkozy, 68, was convicted in 2021 of trying to bribe a magistrate in exchange for information about a legal case in which he was implicated. It was the first time in modern French history that a former president had been convicted of corruption and sentenced to prison.
Sarkozy, who was president from 2007 to 2012, denies wrongdoing and appealed the original ruling. The Paris appeals court on Wednesday upheld the conviction and the sentence, according to a court official.
His lawyer, Jacqueline Laffont, called the decision “stupefying” and “unjust.”
Sarkozy is entitled to ask to be detained at home with an electronic bracelet, standard practice for sentences of two years or less. He also received a two-year suspended sentence, which he will not have to serve if he commits no new offense in the next five years.
It is one of multiple legal cases Sarkoky has faced. He was convicted later in 2021 of illegal campaign financing of his unsuccessful 2012 re-election bid. Last week, prosecutors asked for him to be sent to trial on charges that he took millions in illegal financing for his 2007 campaign by the regime of late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.
Corruption, deep disparity mark Iraq’s oil legacy post-2003
The oil is pumped 24 hours a day several meters from Raghed Jasim’s home in Iraq’s crude-rich southern heartland. Gas flares from the field light the night sky bright orange, spewing acrid smoke; when the wind picks up, the 40-year old’s clothes are coated black.
For Iraq’s poorest, evidence of the country's monumental oil wealth is inescapable. So is the knowledge that very little of it trickles down to them.
Jasim’s savings were depleted when he was diagnosed with cancer last year, a disease he is convinced was caused by the toxic plumes. Twenty years since the U.S.-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein and remade Iraq’s political order with the promise of democracy and freedom, he has one wish: To find a way to leave.
“There is no future here for my children,” he said.
Basra province, which boasts most of Iraq’s oil reserves, is symbolic of the deep disparities that have endured since the 2003 invasion. Basra continually bewilders experts, envoys and residents: How can a relatively stable province so rich in resources rank among the poorest and most under-developed in the country?
“Of course, I blame the corrupt Iraqi government,” said Jasim, a policeman, echoing a widespread view in the region. “But I blame the Americans too. They replaced our leaders with thieves.”
Local leaders in Basra talk of the oil reserves as both a blessing and a curse. They say resources bring affluence but have also given rise to vicious competition between political elites and armed groups at the expense of the Iraqi people.
The power-sharing system in place since 2003, which divides the state and its institutions along ethnic and sectarian lines, sucks oil wealth into a pool of corruption and patronage. The higher the oil price, the more entrenched this system becomes as sectarian-based parties claim lucrative ministry portfolios, appoint loyalists in key positions and dole out public jobs to ensure support. According to the International Monetary Fund, public sector employment tripled from 2004 to 2013, but service delivery in health, education and power sectors remained inadequate.
The result is that elections keep establishment parties in power. Voter turnout has dropped to record lows.
Apart from institutional failures, air pollution is extensive in Basra, and salinity levels arising from a severe fresh water crisis are leading causes of illness, according to local researchers. Unemployment is rampant, with more than half the population below the age of 25.
Public anger gave rise to violent protests in 2018, the precursor to mass anti-government protests in the capital a year later. But a swift crackdown by security forces and assassinations by armed groups have created a climate of fear.
“The killings silenced many activists,” said Basra activist Ammar Sarhan. “Business continues as usual.”
The 2003 toppling of Saddam propelled the oil-rich country into the global economy, opening the doors to foreign investment. In pre-invasion planning, U.S. advisors and their Iraqi opposition allies in exile had envisioned a shock system of reforms that would revamp Iraq’s oil industry and fund post-war reconstruction.
Instead, violence hobbled oil production for years. A charm offensive by then-Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahrestani paved the way for major oil contracts to be awarded in 2007 and 2009. Today exports reach over 3 million barrels a day, double the rate in the early 2000s. The state budget, which in 2021 reached up to $90 billion, is financed almost entirely by oil revenues. Still, the government fails to deliver essential services, including water and electricity.
In Basra, conditions rank amongst the worst in the country. Unemployment stands at 21%, above the national average of 16% according to a 2022 study by the International Labor Organization. Statistics for poverty rates vary from 10-20% according to various studies and local economists. Meanwhile, the province boasts around 70% of the country's oil production capacity.
The road leading to Jasim’s humble home is rocky and unpaved.
In 2003, he was a young man bewitched by the Bush administration’s rhetoric of building a democratic Iraq, he said. “We were full of hope,” he recalled. Twenty years on, he is middle-aged, tired of rampant government corruption and recovering from cancer.
The loan he had taken out to build a home was used up to pay for $30,000 in private medical bills. Basra’s decrepit public hospitals were overwhelmed and unable to provide treatment, he said.
His is a common story in Nahran Omar, a village of fewer than 2,000 people adjacent to a state-run oil field where cancer rates are disproportionately high. Every family here has a story of illness and debt, said Bashir Jabir, the mayor.
“After 2003, more and more oil was exported, and we expected to benefit from this,” he said. “Instead, it hurt us.”
The government long played down the link between cancer rates in the south and oil production activity, saying cases are only marginally higher than the rest of the country. This changed in 2022, when then-Environment Minister Jassim al-Falahi acknowledged that pollution from the fields was the main reason for the rise in sickness.
Nahran Omar highlights a tragic irony: The natural gas burned from the oil fields, if captured, could solve Iraq’s perennial electricity shortages and reduce pollution. But securing investment to do this has been set back by protracted contract negotiations, a common headache for most major foreign investors.
The entry of foreign investors also exacerbated competition between tribes, said Sheikh Muhammed al-Zaidawi, who leads an assembly of southern tribal elders. Tribes, which often wield more influence than government institutions in the south, pressure foreign companies for jobs, compensation, training for youth and development of their villages.
“Most of the problems between tribes today are caused by the presence of oil companies,” he said, “All of them want to benefit.” Tribal disputes often turn into deadly gun battles.
Reliance on the oil industry has stifled private sector development. Nearly every prime minister since the invasion has repeated calls to diversify the economy and boost incentives for Iraqi businesses.
Nidhal Musa is one success story.
She grew up in a poor suburb of Basra city and was 35 when the U.S. invaded Iraq. She spent subsequent years taking care of her sick and disabled husband. Desperate to earn money, she began sewing clothes to sell in the local market.
By 2013, she had gathered a group of women just like herself, beleaguered and in need of money to support their families. She pooled together enough funds to open a garment factory and became known for employing the poor.
But not everyone welcomed her success.
In 2022, Musa received a slew of death threats. “Be very careful,” one message read. She believes she is being targeted because she refused to use her local fame to back a powerful political party that asked her to promote their campaign in 2021 elections.
“They try to keep us weak,” she said. “They know perfectly well, if the people are hungry, they will be preoccupied only by their hunger.”
Bangladesh can draw more investment if corruption remains less prevalent: Peter Haas
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas today (March 21, 2023) said his country is committed to working with Bangladesh to eliminate corruption – enabling Bangladeshis to enjoy lives of dignity and drawing more international trade and foreign investment.
“If Bangladesh can assure citizens and investors that corruption is less prevalent here than in other markets, it will attract more investment and help the country continue on the path of economic growth,” he said.
Ambassador Haas made the remarks at an event, titled “Call to Action Against Corruption Summit”, at a Dhaka hotel, organized by Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) and Center for International Private Enterprises.
The US ambassador said corruption exists, to one degree or another, in every corner of the globe, and they are all too familiar with what it looks like.
Read More: Excited to see more Bangladeshi students are choosing US: Peter Haas
“It’s trying to get a driver’s license and having to pay ‘speed money’. It’s knowing that if you want a passport appointment, it’s going to cost you extra. It’s needing to bribe the right official to register a plot of land you just purchased,” Haas said.
Corruption is a parasite that feeds on the resources of a society and drains it of its strength and can devastate every level of business and government, he said.
“Sadly, some notorious scandals have occurred in my own country,” said the US ambassador.
Yet, he said, exposing corruption and holding perpetrators accountable have catalyzed economic growth in the United States and elsewhere.
Read More: New US Ambassador Peter Haas arrives in Dhaka
“When societies exert such efforts, they prosper. I am confident this can be the case here in Bangladesh, as well, and the United States is eager to help,” he said.
Under President Biden, the US government has established the fight against corruption as a core national security interest, he added.
“We support initiatives that help Bangladeshi businesses meet international standards and regulations, making them more competitive in the global market,” said the envoy.
“By promoting ethical business practices, we can create a more level playing field for businesses of all sizes and encourage more foreign investment,” he added.
Read More: Peter Haas nominated next US Ambassador to Bangladesh
The US Agency for International Development, USAID, has partnered with Bangladesh’s Registrar of Joint Stock Companies to launch an online registration process for new businesses.
This makes registering new businesses more transparent, faster, and more affordable, Ambassador Haas said.
USAID has also worked with the Bangladesh National Board of Revenue to establish authorized economic operators. This endeavour empowers the private sector, instead of the government, to release shipments at ports, he said.
As a result, Haas said, the process has become more transparent and raised the level of trust between the private sector and the government.
Read More: Prevent corruption in every sector: President to ACC
The US Department of Commerce’s Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) works with the Private Public Partnership Authority Bangladesh to conduct workshops to improve the legal and business environment of Bangladesh.
CLDP also works with Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) to improve municipal governance by improving fiscal transparency. Under this program, CLDP invited over a DNCC delegation, including the mayor, to Miami in January.
The US Department of Justice trains investigators and attorneys in the Anti-Corruption Commission on topics such as how to investigate and prosecute money laundering, how to use electronic evidence, and how to investigate financial crimes.
“It has also fostered a relationship between Bangladesh’s Financial Intelligence Unit and the International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre,” Haas said.
Read More: All-pervasive corruption by AL destroys economy: Fakhrul
“The United States is committed to holding corrupt officials accountable for their actions. This can take various forms,” said the ambassador.
Just as US laws hold American citizens and businesses accountable for corrupt practices, there are US laws and penalties that apply to non-citizens who use corrupt practices in violation of the laws.
“What can the Bangladeshi government do to reduce corruption? It could think about ways to empower institutions to tackle corruption and promote transparency and accountability in governance and business,” he said.
One idea is to reduce the amount of cash that officials handle by replacing cash-based financial transactions with the government with online transactions, Haas said.
Read More: Power tariff being raised frequently to manage corruption: Fakhrul
“Citizens could pay bills, fines, and taxes electronically. Such a process would minimize the opportunity for bureaucrats to overcharge or misplace public funds into their own pockets,” he said.
Haas recognized the important role a vibrant civil society and free media play in investigating and exposing instances of corruption.
Bangladesh has many advantages that potential investors would find attractive, he said. “But as American business leaders tell me: multi-national firms have options on where they invest.”
They will choose whichever country has the lowest levels of corruption, the fewest bureaucratic obstacles, the greatest respect for rule of law, and the best logistics infrastructure for their business, he added.
Read More: BNP's complaints about corruption 'laughable': Hasan Mahmud
BNP's complaints about corruption 'laughable': Hasan Mahmud
When the BNP complains about corruption, even donkeys laugh at them, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud commented on Tuesday.
“BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and the acting chairman have been punished for corruption and money laundering. The FBI came to Bangladesh and testified against Tareq Rahman,” he said.
"So when the BNP complains about corruption, even donkeys laugh at them," he made these remarks while speaking at a Chattogram City Corporation event.
“My question is: who made Bangladesh five times champions in corruption? The answer is BNP,” he continued.
Read more: Economic crisis, inflation leave public life in the lurch: BNP
Hasan Mahmud, the Awami League's joint general secretary, mentioned fires on school grounds in several districts in 2014.
He said, “BNP carried out arson attacks in 500 schools. New books for students were destroyed in those schools. The BNP did this in the name of resisting the election.”
“Prices of commodities increased due to the Ukraine war and the Corona pandemic,” he said in response to the BNP’s secretary general’s speech on the commodity price hikes.
“Inflation is 8 percent in our country, which is much lower than in other countries,” he added.
Chittagong City Corporation Mayor Bir Muktijoddha Rezaul Karim Chowdhury presided over the event, and Suborna Mustafa MP was the special guest.
Corruption allegations against ex-Gazipur mayor Jahangir: HC asks to complete probe within 6 months
The High Court (HC) on Wednesday asked the authorities concerned to complete the investigation into corruption allegations against Gazipur City Corporation’s former mayor Jahangir Alam within six months.
An HC bench of Justice Md Nazul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat passed the order during the hearing of a writ petition.
Advocates ZI Khan Panna and Ekramul Hoque Tutul stood for the writ petitioner, Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan represented the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and Attorney General AM Amin Uddin and Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik stood for the state at the hearing.
Md Abdur Rahim, a resident of Paschim Bhirulia Sarkar Bari under the GCC, moved the HC with a writ petition to dispose of the investigation into corruption allegations against Jahangir on Tuesday.
Apart from this, the court wanted to know why directives won’t be given to quickly complete the investigation into the corruption and take proper initiatives as per the rule. The investigators were asked to submit a probe report before the court.
ACC chairman, Local Government secretary, additional secretary, Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit, GCC incumbent acting mayor and former mayor Jahangir were respondents to the rule.
In a recent newspaper report, it was said that the former mayor Jahangir and his cohorts embezzled Tk 12.43 crore from a project on garbage drainage for the fiscal years 2018-2019 to 2020-2021.
Besides, allegations of corruption involving a huge amount of money were brought against the former mayor, who was sacked from the post of general secretary of Gazipur city unit of Awami League following his derogatory remarks on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 2021.
Read more: Cyber tribunal orders probe against suspended Gazipur mayor under DSA