White
paper on corruption of AL govt after probe
Resources
funneled abroad to be brought back: PM
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia
on Wednesday informed parliament that a white paper on
corruption and financial irregularities of past Awami
League government would be published after proper
investigation.Replying to Shamsul Alam Pramanik (BNP)
during the PM's question time, she said a chief consultant
and two other consultants have already been appointed to
work on the publication of the planned white
papers.Khaleda said that whoever in the past government
had committed corruption would be named in the white
paper.
She said allegations of
massive corruption and irregularities committed during the
past government and necessary documents and evidences are
being received. Such stories of corruption were also
published in newspapers.The Prime Minister said a report
of Transparency International also contained stories of
corruption and irregularities, and identified Bangladesh
as number one corrupt country in the world.Responding to a
supplementary of Prof Shahidul Islam (BNP), she said legal
actions would be taken against those who would be found
guilty after proper investigation into corruption.
She further informed that
steps would be taken to bring back resources
"funneled abroad by ex-Ministers or leaders of the
past government."To another supplementary from Mia
Golam Parwar (Jamaat-e-Islami), the Prime Minister said it
would not be possible to tell the exact time of
publication of the white paper.She added that it requires
time for proper investigation. The work on white paper has
already started and it would only take the time that is
needed.
Responding to JP member GM
Qader, she said: "We'll have no reservation if anyone
publishes anything if there be any allegation of
corruption against us."The PM informed the House that
an Ombudsman and an Independent Anti-corruption Commission
would be appointed to check corruption.Khaleda Zia told
Parliament that the Bureau of Anti-corruption has already
started investigation into alleged irregularties in the
distribution of textbooks during the last
government.Replying to a question from Masud Arun (BNP-Meherpur),
she said steps have been taken to ensure supply of
textbooks in due time among the students of the 2002
academic session.
The Prime Minister informed
that work orders have been given to 150 institutions
through tender according to rules and regulations for
distribution of textbooks for primary education free of
cost among students across the country.Work orders have
also been given to 296 institutions through the process of
tender, as per rules and regulations, for printing and
marketing of textbooks of primary and secondary level.
Power tariff tobe
increasedThe government would increase the power tariff in
the country, Prime Minister informed parliament.The past
Awami League government took the decision in last March to
raise power tariff, but did not implement it due to the
election, she said.Replying to a supplementary from
Shahidul Islam (BNP), Khaleda said: "The government
is now implementing the decision of the previous Awami
League government in raising the power tariff."
To a question from Nurul
Huda (BNP), the Prime Minister said the previous Awami
League government had increased power tariff nine times
between October 1996 and November 2000.
economyKhaleda
Zia said that the present government has taken various
steps to safeguard and improve the management of the
country's economy in the wake of domestic decline, global
recession and US-Afghan war.
Replying to Syed Moazzem
Hossain Alal (BNP) during the PM's question time, she
mentioned the government steps that include reduction of
bank interest rate aiming at expansion of loans and
increase of production.Interest rate on savings
certificate has been brought down to encourage the
depositors to invest in strengthening the share market,
she said.The Prime Minister said steps have been taken to
reduce unnecessary expenditure in the revenue and
development sectors and increase revenue income.
She said steps have been
taken to provide various facilities for increasing export
of ready-made garments, frozen food and agro-based
industrial products.Steps have also been taken for
ensuring quota and tax-free entry of ready-made garments
to USA, she added.Responding to a supplementary, the Prime
Minister said the government has already announced its
decision to initiate economic diplomacy. Steps have been
taken in this regard and the diplomats in all Bangladesh
missions abroad directed to act accordingly.
She said relations with
donors, including the World Bank, IMF and ADB,
deteriorated during the Awami League rule. She added that
relations have been reestablished with the donors, who
stopped assistance during the past regime due to
"corruption and misuse of power."To a
supplementary from Gazi Mohammad Shahjahan (BNP), the
Prime Minister said that unproductive and unnecessary
expenditure would be stopped and the resources directed to
the productive sectors.
