Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Dr Mohammad Abdul Momen on Tuesday said corruption in the country can be curbed only if terrorists, extortionists and corrupt individuals are kept out of politics and honest, competent people are elected as public representatives.
He made the remarks while addressing a program organised by the ACC to mark International Anti-Corruption Day.
The ACC chairman said corruption has permeated various layers of Bangladesh’s social system to such an extent that it has become difficult to eradicate it entirely. However, he added, meaningful change is possible if citizens make conscious and informed choices.
Urging voters to reject corrupt candidates in the upcoming national parliamentary elections, he said only the election of honest and capable representatives can help reduce corruption.
Dr Momen also stressed that there is no alternative to citizens’ active and conscious participation in establishing good governance and called for building strong social resistance against corruption.
This year’s International Anti-Corruption Day is being observed under the theme “Youth Unity Against Corruption: Building the Purity of the Future.” The ACC is marking the occasion with day-long programmes.
As part of the observance, the ACC-based journalists’ organisation Reporters Against Corruption organised a human chain. The day’s events began at 8am with the singing of the national anthem and the hoisting of the national and ACC flags.
A human chain was held in front of the ACC headquarters at 9am, followed by a discussion program at 10am at the National Theatre Auditorium of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
