PM sounds zero tolerance against corruption

Special Correspondent :
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked the authorities concern to take stringent measures and strengthen market monitoring, so that no one can manipulate the market price of the commodities during the month of holy Ramadan.

Besides, she also cautioned ministers and state ministers against corruption, saying that she would follow zero tolerance in this regard.

The instruction was given in the first meeting of the new Cabinet taken oath of January 11 this year.

The Cabinet meeting was held at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) at Tejgaon on Monday.

Later, Cabinet Secretary M. Mahbub Hossain briefed media in Cabinet conference room at the Secretariat.

In the first meeting, the Prime Minister also warned the members of the new Cabinet about corruption.

“I want to tell you that I will not tolerate any kinds of corruption or irregularities in any public sector, including public procurement.

I want to ensure transparency and accountability in all areas including government procurement,” she said in her introductory speech at the very outset of the Cabinet meeting.

Mentioning that corruption is not good for any country, the PM added, “Special attention should be given to government revenue expenditure and public procurement.

Transparency must be ensured with accountability. I will not tolerate any kind of corruption and irregularity here,” she said.

“We will use whatever resources we have appropriately. We will proceed by maintaining financial discipline. We have to ensure welfare of the people with our limited resources,” she further added.

Directing to ensure transparency in the social security sector, the PM said that attention should also be paid to make sure that the right people are getting the old age and social security allowances.

The Prime Minister asked the parties concerned to take measures to bring drugs under control.
Referring to the inflation, she said the prices of the various commodities are high but there is no shortage of the items.

She stressed the need for controlling the inflation saying ‘only then the common people of Bangladesh will get the benefits of growth’.

The PM said the government since 2009 has been able to bring down food inflation from 12 percent to nine percent. “All others fell to 8 percent. But we have to reduce it further,” she added.

Sheikh Hasina reiterated her call to check wastage of public money, even in taking any kind of development project and maintain austerity in every sphere of life.
She also claimed that the farmers become happy when food prices rise.

“But the consumers suffer. The pressure of price hike falls on them. It has to be balanced, we have to act very quickly on how to make it consistent,” she stated, adding, “Stringent measures will have to be taken and market monitoring should be strengthened, so that no one can manipulate the price of commodities.”

Asking the authorities concerned to put the price manipulators under strict surveillance, Sheikh Hasina said only a limited number of groups import food products during Ramadan.

“They also always want to play a game here. In that case we have to take our own preparations,” she said.