Bangladesh News

Awami League (AL) Chief Sheikh Hasina yesterday called upon the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to reveal the names of people who have whitened their black money.

Demanding scrutiny of the wealth that the corrupt people have amassed since the country’s independence, Hasina also came down heavily upon those who make sweeping criticism against politicians.

“Those who blame the politicians are now trying to be politicians,” the AL president said while exchanging views with the representatives of ‘Bangalee Sangskritik Mancha’ at her Dhanmondi office.

“Why are you so eager to join politics after abusing the politicians so much?” Hasina posed the question without naming anyone.

She noted that those who want to be politicians ‘all of a sudden’ would cause disaster to the country and pollute politics. “Those who started politics after capturing power first could not give anything to the nation, rather only looted the public wealth.”

The former prime minister said there is no difference between the corrupt, bribe takers and interest takers. “Those who take interests not only failed to eradicate poverty, but also nurture poverty,” the AL chief noted.

Saying that there are many honest politicians in the country, she asked people concerned not to make any sweeping allegations against politicians.

“Don’t mix up the politicians with those who are involved in criminalisation of politics,” Hasina said, blaming previous BNP-led four-party coalition government for the tainted image of the politicians.

The AL chief urged people to free the country from black money, corruption, terrorism, grenade attacks and those who have ’suddenly turned into politicians.’

Talking on the prevailing situation, she said, “The unquenchable greed of the previous BNP-Jamaat government pushed us to these straits. They wanted to enjoy their ill-gotten wealth through holding a farcical election on January 22, but failed.”

“We’ve to identify who grabbed people’s wealth in last five years. Otherwise, we can’t save our country,” Hasina said.

Welcoming the decision that the law enforcers will need to obtain permission of the advisory committee on law and order first before evicting slums, the AL president requested the caretaker administration not to evict the slum dwellers without making arrangements for their rehabilitation.

The present caretaker government is the outcome of their movement, she said adding “We’ve to fight for people’s social, cultural and economic freedom.”

Hasina also urged the caretaker government to uphold people’s voting, constitutional and human rights.

Senior AL leaders Abdul Jalil, Tofail Ahmed, Motia Chowdhury, Obaidul Kader, Abdul Mannan and Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin were present during the meeting. Alamgir Kumkum, Abdul Matin Bhuiyan, ATM Shamsuzzaman, architect Yafis Osman, poets Rabindra Gope, Dani Sedak, Rafiq Azad and Aslam Sani were the representatives from Bangalee Sangskritik Mancha.