Abu Jakir :
A bitter political struggle over accusations of corruption has broken out in the country, with the ruling Awami League (AL) and its arch rival, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), trading barbs.
Two high-profile scandals involving former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed and Army Chief General Aziz Ahmed have put the two parties into a virtual ring and made them find each other’s fault lines.
The AL took a defensive stance as both Aziz and Benazir held key positions during their decade-long tenure, but party officials have made an effort to shift the blame away from themselves in the face of increasing scrutiny, claiming that corruption in Bangladesh was sown under the BNP’s rule.
“This trend of corruption and administrative irregularities is a legacy of the BNP-led government,” AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif told The New Nation yesterday.
“The founder of BNP, Ziaur Rahman, institutionalised corruption within the government and administration. This is why these issues persist in our country today,” he added.
Talking to the media recently, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader said the BNP is the “masters of corruption and looting”, adding its leaders siphoned money abroad and enriched themselves at the country’s expense.
“BNP is the master of corruption and looting. If BNP prepares a list of corrupt people in the country, the names of BNP leaders will come first,” Quader asserted.
On the other side, the BNP has seized the opportunity to criticize the Awami League, accusing it of fostering a culture of corruption and shielding officials like Aziz and Benazir to maintain power.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir recently made a scathing speech at a public discussion, attributing the scandals directly to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government.
“The government is responsible for the massive corruption and misdeeds of former Army Chief General Aziz Ahmed and former IGP Benazir Ahmed,” Fakhrul stated.
“This administration has created an environment where numerous officials engage in looting and corruption with impunity.”
Fakhrul further lambasted the government’s handling of Benazir Ahmed’s tenure, despite the former IGP being sanctioned by the United States. “You nurtured him,” Fakhrul accused. “You made him the IGP even after he was sanctioned long ago.”
The BNP leader did not hold back in his criticism of Aziz Ahmed either, who has been sanctioned for his involvement in election interference and other misconduct. “A former army chief has been sanctioned now for indulging in looting, stealing, and obstructing elections in Bangladesh,” he said. “Is this only their responsibility? No, it is the responsibility of this government which stays in power by force.”
The BNP has called for the resignation of the current government, holding it accountable for the actions of officials like Aziz and Benazir. “Not just one Aziz and one Benazir. You have fostered countless persons like them who are plundering public money,” Fakhrul observed.
Talking to this correspondent yesterday, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said, “It is Awami League’s old habit to shoulder their blame on others, especially on BNP. But, the AL government can’t avoid its responsibility for nurturing and supporting people like Benazir and Aziz doing such massive corruption.”
Meanwhile, the ruling Awami League finds itself in a state of discomfort as it grapples with two high-profile scandals involving former Army Chief General Aziz Ahmed and former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed.
Despite public assurances from party leaders, internal sources suggest that these issues have deeply unsettled the government, providing fodder for opposition criticism.
The US sanctions, announced on May 20, target Aziz Ahmed for his involvement in corruption and abuse of power during his tenure.
In a related development, a Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of immovable property belonging to Benazir Ahmed, his wife, and daughters, following similar accusations of corruption. Both officials were prominent figures under the current Awami League administration, heading the military and police forces respectively.