The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday warned that the government will not accept any hindrance on the way of curbing corruption.

He also expressed his determination to form an honest and efficient administration in line with the people's expectations.

Ashraful made this remark while talking to reporters at his office at Secretariat on his first working day.

He said, "We will put an end to politicisation of all institutions including the judiciary, Public Service Commission and the Election Commission in order to form an honest and efficient administration in the light of people's hopes."

"They have voted us keeping a lot of expectation in mind. We have strong determination for socio-economic development to transform Bangladesh into a middle-income country. We have announced various long-term plan in our election manifesto," he said.

Replying to a question on the rampant corruption in his ministry in the past, Ashraf said: "We will definitely find out the corrupts and punitive action will be taken against them. Corruption is a devastating disease and we have to uproot it"

Asked about the major challenges of the government he said, "Right now, we are faced with three major challenges now - lowering prices of essentials, employment generation and rural infrastructure development."

He expressed dissatisfaction of the tradition of floral tribute to newly appointed ministers by the officials of the ministries and said, "The reception given to ministers by putting up banners, chanting slogans and strewing flowers inside the Secretariat is a detestable offence."

He also asserted that a decision would be made through discussions in the cabinet meeting in this regard.

About trial of the war criminals, he said, "The war criminals will have to be tried according to the election manifesto of the party. The countries that have tried war criminals are eager to provide us assistance in this regard."

"The foreign diplomats also showed their eagerness to assist in trial procedure when they met with the party president. The legal process will be finalised after we get proposals from them." Ashraf also said, "Some 21,000 AL activists were killed during the tenure of the past (BNP-led) regime.The terrorists will not be spared. We will probe the killings."