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.”  

The US Embassy in Dhaka has congratulated this year’s Anti-Corruption Champion Award winner from Bangladesh journalist Rozina Islam. The US Secretary of State announced Anti-Corruption Champions from eight countries who are "changing the world" for the better through their work to fight for transparency and accountability. "On International Anti-Corruption Day, we recognize these champions who are members of government, the press, civil society, and the judiciary." Read more: ARTICLE 19 greets journalist Rozina Islam The US State Department recognized eight honorees from around the world, highlighting the United States’ efforts to promote anti-corruption reform.  The ACCA recognizes individuals who have demonstrated leadership, courage, and impact in preventing, exposing, and combatting corruption. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken launched the ACCA in February 2021 to demonstrate the Biden Administration’s commitment to combating corruption.  Read more: Journalists demand unconditional release of Rozina Islam Due to previous COVID-19 restrictions, this will be the first award ceremony hosted in-person.

A newly founded anti-corruption party held a narrow lead in the preliminary vote count from Bulgaria’s parliamentary elections Sunday. A parallel count conducted by Gallup International gave the centrist We Continue the Change party 26.3% of the votes, leading the center-right opposition GERB party of former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov by just over three percentage points. READ: Bangladesh receives 2.70 lakh AstraZeneca doses from Bulgaria Founded only few weeks ago by two Harvard graduates, Kiril Petkov and Asen Vasilev, the party quickly won support due to their resolute anti-graft actions and pledges to bring transparency, zero tolerance for corruption and reforms to key sectors in the European Union's poorest member. “We will be the number one political force,” Petkov told reporters after initial results were released. “We will have a majority of 121 MPs in the 240-seat parliament and Bulgaria will have a regular coalition Cabinet.” It could be days before the final official results are announced. If they confirm the initial counts, Petkov would be handed a mandate to form a new government. Petkov said his party was open to coalition talks with all the parties that were part of last year’s protests against Boyko Borissov’s government. Investigations by the current caretaker government showed alleged corruption cases. “Now is the time to show that Bulgaria has embarked on the road of change and there is no turning back,” said Petkov. After Bulgaria held inconclusive general elections in April and July, many hoped this third attempt to elect 240 lawmakers would result in a government that can lead the country out of its health and economic crises. READ: Bulgaria arrests 6 soccer fans following racist acts  Five other parties appeared headed to winning spots in the 240-seat chamber, according to the exit poll. They include the ethnic Turkish MRF party with 11.4%, the Socialist Party with 10.4% support, the anti-elite There is Such a People party with 9.3%, the liberal anti-corruption group Democratic Bulgaria with 6.4%, and the nationalist Revival party with 5%. The vote Sunday for a new parliament and a new president came amid a surge of coronavirus infections. The Balkan country is the least vaccinated in the EU, with less than one-third of its adults fully vaccinated. Bulgaria reported 334 COVID-related deaths last week in a single day, a pandemic record. The Gallup International exit poll also suggested that President Rumen Radev has a commanding lead in his quest for a second five-year term but will still have to face runner-up Anastas Gerdzhikov in a Nov. 21 runoff as voter turnout remained below the needed 50%. Radev, a vocal critic of Borissov, said Sunday that he voted for freedom, legality, and justice. “These are the values I stand for,” he said after casting his ballot. “The stakes are huge and will determine whether the process of consolidating statehood will continue or those acting from behind the scenes will regain institutional power.” Some 6.7 million people were eligible to vote. The Central Election Commission said preliminary voter turnout was nearly 40%, lower than in previous elections.