President M Abdul Hamid today asked the government along with the people’s representatives and volunteers of different socio-cultural organisations to come forward to prevent corruption from the society.
The President came up with the call as a delegation of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) led by its Chairman Iqbal Mahmood, submitted its ‘Annual Report – 2019’ to him at Bangabhaban here this evening.
Stressing on building a corruption-free environment for the future generation so that they can grow up smoothly, President Hamid urged all to build strong resistance against corrupt practice across the country.
“Corruption is a key barrier to development . . . We must create social awareness campaign against institutional corruption simultaneously and prevent non-institutional corrupt practices,” the Bangabhaban spokesman quoted the President as saying.
The head of the state hoped that the country’s anti-graft commission would play a very active role in curbing corruption in the days to come, he said.
During the meeting, the ACC chairman apprised the President of various aspects of the report and the overall activities of the commission, President’s press secretary Joynal Abedin told BSS.
Noting that the commission received over more than 21,000 complaints in 2019, the ACC chairman said eight percent of those were taken cognizance for investigation and 17% were sent to the ministries concerned suggesting for taking necessary action.
Mahmood also informed that in 2019, over Taka 3497 crore was realized as fine from different individuals and institutions and the assets worth about Taka 436 crore were also confiscated.
The ACC chairman informed that the commission recommended promotion of government officials from ninth grade onwards through examination in each case to ensure honesty, accountability and transparency in service.
Besides he also informed the President that the ACC recommended for the establishing a ‘Civil Service Reforms Commission”.
Iqbal Mahmood sought the full cooperation from the President in taking necessary steps in this regard.
ACC Commissioners Dr Md Mozammel Hoque Khan and AFM Aminul Islam were in the delegation. Secretaries concerned to the Bangabhaban were also president there.