Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon on Monday said that the anti-corruption drive of the government has grinded to a halt. “Corruption is a part of development.  But those countries that are on the path of development have taken strict measures to prevent corruption,” he said. Rashed Khan Menon said this while participating in the discussion of the thanksgiving motion on the President's speech in the Parliament. He said that China has punished 150,000 persons for various terms on corruption charges.   “Which includes Politburo members.  Vietnam has sacked its deputy prime minister.  But what have we done in the case of ministers and bureaucrats? No we don’t,” he said. Also Read: 191 news portals to be blocked for anti-state propaganda: Info Minister Rashed Khan Menon said that he will not talk about defaulted loans and money laundering.   “There has been a lot of talk about this in Parliament.  In this case, the government's thinking is like that you can say whatever you want, bit I will not pay any heed,” he said. Rashed Khan Menon said that the US and western imperialism wanted to involve Bangladesh in their plot of war in Russia and Ukraine, whichnis leading the world towards third world war. “The Prime Minister has managed to keep Bangladesh away from it so far.  And this is why all those forces are so vocal about our elections and democracy.” Menon made it clear that Bangladesh's democracy and elections are its own affairs.   “They should rather take care of their own matters and talk about others later,” he added. Criticising BNP, Rashed Khan Menon said that they have given 27 points to repair the state is an attempt to take the state back to the 'illegal fifth amendment era'.   “Their 'Rainbow Nation' stands for  abolishing the verdicts of the war criminals trials.”  

Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon on Monday came down heavily on a parliamentary standing committee for its recommendation to find alternatives to female upazila nirbahi officers' presence during the guard of honour ceremonies given to deceased freedom fighters at their funeral. Read:Standing against corruption is the ultimate tribute to Bangabandhu: Menon“Such humiliation [to females] cannot be acceptable,” he lamented, while participating in the discussion on the proposed budget for 2021-22 fiscal in Parliament.Menon said such a recommendation is tantamount to humiliating women who sacrificed their lives and were subjected to rape during the country’s Liberation War in 1971.The parliamentary standing committee on Liberation War Affairs Ministry on Sunday recommended taking necessary measures to find alternatives to a female upazila nirbahi officer's presence during the guard of honour given to valiant freedom fighters after their deaths. Read: Menon seeks special allowance for elderly journalistsThe parliamentary standing committee came up with the recommendation in a meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban with ruling Awami League lawmaker Shajahan Khan in the chair.Menon in his speech said that although the finance minister mentioned about the economic progress in his budget, but it is also true that structural weakness and corruption in health sector has been exposed for the last one year.Menon also criticised the budget for imposing VAT on private universities. Read: Menon slams govt for remaining ‘silent’ over Trump’s peace plan"The proposed budget is businessman-friendly," he said.