The New Nation - Internet Edition

Chittagong Correspondent

A spontaneous and strong social movement against graft of both individual and institutional levels has been emphasized here at a grand rally yesterday aimed at taking the nation out of the vicious cycle.

Chairman of the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury reiterated the urgency of a social movement while addressing the grand rally as the chief guest.

Meanwhile, our Staff Reporter from Dhaka added that 40,000 people who participated the rally vowed to curb corruption from the society at any cost.

People from all walks of life including children, women, students and professionals took out a colourful parade to say 'no to corruption' that encouraged Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury, a former Army Chief, who, said Bangladesh would be a corruption free democratic society in the future.]

He called upon all to come forward in washing away nasty thing like corruption from the society.

Committee for Prevention of Corruption in Chittagong organised the rally that was attended by about forty thousand people including youths, students, professionals, members of the private voluntary development organizations, shop owners association, apex body of the RMG exporters, members of different socio-cultural organizations and trade bodies.

Executive Director of the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Dr. Iftekharul Islam and the President of the Committee for Prevention of Corruption in Chittagong Monwara Hakim Ali also addressed the rally.

The graft eliminators marched in the long queue and carried banner, festoons and placards with slogans hating graft with a vow to say 'No' to corruption.

Gen Hasan Mashhud led the procession that started from the Al-Falah complex premises at about 10.10 a.m. and returned there after parading GEC Intersection, OR Nizam Road and the MM Ali Road. Regional Director of the ACC in Chittagong Major Zulfiqar Ali Majumder and business leader MA Latif accompanied him.

Gen Mashhud said, "We have gathered here today to raise our voices against corruption." He urged the people of Chittagong to continue to be vocal against corruption in future.

Many went on the rooftop of the wayside buildings to glance the huge procession while hundreds of onlookers greeted the marchers.

"We're working to aware the young generation of the implications of graft and corruption will drop down to a tolerable level when these young start hating corrupts in their respective families and around them," President of the Committee for Prevention of Corruption in Chittagong Monwara Hakim Ali said.

City traffic virtually turned to a total halt when a large number of marchers took the city streets and moved to the Al-Falah Complex.