‘Dev used for corruption’
Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday told Parliament that widespread corruption had taken place in the name of development during the tenure of the previous government, saying the new administration had already begun to realize the scale of the problem since assuming office.
Responding to a supplementary question from opposition lawmaker Akhter Hossen during the question-and-answer session in the House, Fakhrul said that massive irregularities were committed in implementing mega projects under the past administration.
“It’s unfortunate for us that utter corruption was committed in the name of mega projects or development during the regime of the past fascist government.
It is our realization after we came in power one month ago,” he said.
The minister, who also serves as Secretary General of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, said the northern region of the country had long suffered from neglect, particularly in the condition of roads and transport infrastructure.
“It is also unfortunate that the roads and streets in the northern region remained utterly neglected,” he told the House.
Fakhrul assured lawmakers that the present government would not tolerate such corruption in development initiatives and would give priority to improving rural infrastructure.
“InshaAllah, in the coming days, we will not tolerate any such corruption and will work giving the utmost importance to rural roads and communication,” he said.
Earlier, Akhter Hossen, a member of the opposition bench representing Rangpur-4, raised concerns about the poor condition of rural roads and the hardships faced by residents in villages.
He said rural communities were suffering badly due to the deteriorating road network, alleging that the previous government had concentrated on large-scale projects while neglecting the development of local road systems.
The lawmaker asked whether the current administration would take measures to improve rural road infrastructure.
Replying to another supplementary question from opposition lawmaker Md Abdul Aleem, Fakhrul said rural roads across the country had not been developed adequately due to widespread corruption and nepotism under the previous government.
He said many roads in rural areas remain unpaved, creating difficulties for local residents, particularly during the rainy season when transportation becomes more challenging.
The government, he added, has already taken initiatives to address the problem.
“We have undertaken steps to pave the earthen (kachha) roads in phases,” the minister said, indicating that the work would be carried out gradually across different regions.
The remarks came amid broader parliamentary discussions on infrastructure development and governance standards, as lawmakers raised questions about past development practices and the need for improved oversight in future projects.
