Change mindsets to prevent corruption: ACC
Society needs to be fixed, and for that, family must be fixed first, says the ACC chairman
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Iqbal Mahmood has said a change of mindset is necessary to prevent corruption.
He made the remark while addressing a discussion at the ACC headquarters on Wednesday as part of the celebration of International Anti-Corruption Day.
Iqbal Mahmood said that in order to prevent corruption, both repression and prevention need to be addressed.
"Society needs to be fixed. And for that, the family has to be fixed first. The child needs to know the income source of the parents. The rules of discipline must be followed in service life," he said.
He continued, "Bangladesh was still corrupt when the ongoing pandemic Covid-19 shook the world. Prevention of corruption is not possible for any single organisation. We will have a prosperous nation in the next 10 years if we can educate the students – especially in primary and secondary education."
ACC Commissioner (Investigation) Dr Mozammel Haque Khan said that at present the ACC is constantly working for the prevention and remediation of corruption.
"Efforts are being made to involve commoners, students and the entire society," he added.
He also said that there must be zero tolerance of corruption.
"All corruption, regardless of its size and shape, must be considered with equal importance. We must remember that honesty is the best approach," he further added.
AFM Aminul Islam, another ACC commissioner (investigation), said that corruption is a disorder of society.
"Bribery and corruption must be eradicated from the society. It is not possible to suppress corruption without social awareness and commitment," he said.
Chairman of the Bangladesh Law Commission and former chief justice ABM Khairul Haque was the chief guest at the event. Additionally, other ACC top officials also participated in the event.
Meanwhile, at another event on the day, Dilwar Bakht, senior secretary of ACC, said that the ACC will take steps to amend the law, if necessary, to ensure the punishment of corrupt people.
He made the remarks at a human chain organised by the Reporters Against Corruption (RAC), an organisation of journalists working in the ACC bit, on the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day.
Focusing on corruption prevention, he said that all the countries of the world are celebrating International Anti-Corruption Day together.
"Reports were published at different times to prevent corruption. And on the basis of those, the anti-corruption organisations are working against corruption," he said, according to the statement.
Dilwar Bakht also said that everyone should work together to prevent corruption.
He continued, "The ACC is being further modernised to identify the corrupt. And they will be brought under the law using information technology."