The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, New York

Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed has said the main goal of the present government is to make the country free of corruption as early as possible.

"Corruption must be checked for establishing democracy in the country", he said while speaking as the chief guest at a gathering of the Bangladeshi expatriates at the Seaside Restaurant at the World Fair Marina here on Wednesday night.

Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States M Humayun Kabir gave the welcome speech while president of the Prabashi Nagorik Committee Mohadeb Sarker greeted the army chief by giving him a bouquet.

General Moeen said corruption should end forever as it had destroyed democracy and the country.

Mentioning the prevailing situation in Bangladesh, role of the present caretaker government and the Armed forces, he said that the global community was surprised to see what had happened in Bangladesh on October 28, 2006.

"We were belittled among the world community who had watched that how brutally a human being could be killed on the streets. Amidst a caretaker government was established but it had intensified the problems. Nobody was caring about law and the situation became volatile," Moeen said.

He said, at this point of time, the country had three options in front of it: the first was to go for elections that was scheduled on January 22, 2006, the second was to proclaim martial law and the third option was to protect the national existence through establishing an acceptable caretaker government by quickly promulgating the state of emergency.

In this regard, he further said, everybody in the world including Bangladesh at that time was apprehending that martial law was imminent. "But we decided not to follow the footsteps of our predecessors as the third option was adopted" he said.

The Army chief said the law and order was restored as soon as the caretaker government took its office. He pointed out that the country witnessed 34 political killings each month on an average in 2006, which came down to zero at present.

"In 2006, there was a plan to destroy the country's garment industries but we have foiled it successfully. Chittagong Port became inoperative which was made fully operational when we intervened. To meet these ends we did not have to do much but to apprehend a few troublemakers. The present efficiency of the port has increased by 40 percent while the cost has been reduced by 30 percent," he added.

General Moeen said establishment of an effective Election Commission and an independent Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) are major success of the caretaker government.

The Election Commission has been preparing the voter list with photographs speedily with the help of the army, he said.

The task of registration of voters will be started in full swing from November and ended within July next year, the General said.

The previous Bureau of Anti-corruption was itself a centre of corruption, Moeen said adding while the present independent ACC has been doing excellent job in checking corruption.

The ACC has filed hundreds of corruption cases and till now 24 persons were convicted in those corruption charges, he said.

Terming the re-establishment of the independent Public Service Commission (PSC) as another success of the government, General Moeen said, in the past, this organization used to take bribe for selection, the bad practice no more exist there. The present government believes in work not only in making commitments, he added.

General Moeen said bringing back of the smuggled money from abroad is going on expeditiously. During the last nine months a total of 129 million US dollar have already been brought back from and deposited to Bangladesh Bank, another 72 million US dollars are in pipeline of reimbursement.

Besides, the work to recover another 240 million US dollar is going on, he informed the expatriates.

The Army chief said, a total of 39 districts of the country have been affected by this year's devastating flood. The members of the armed forces were engaged in conducting relief and rehabilitation works, and mitigating the sufferings of the affected people, he said.

"During the flood, no one died of starvation and for the first time no incident of corruption in relief distribution was reported," Moeen said.

At present the price of essentials remain slightly high, he said adding, but government is trying to keep the price at a tolerable level.

Replying to questions, the Army Chief said, "Inshallah, Bangladesh would not go back to the situation that was prevailing before January 11, 2007."

If required, national security council will be formed and the decision of establishing an independent human rights commission has already been taken, he added.

General Moeen also informed the expatriates that the illegally grabbed lands have been recovered and handed over to the real owners.