Dhaka:The Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives has issued a clarification in response to remarks made by State Minister Mir Shahe Alam. This comes after Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) criticized the comments.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the ministry stated that certain media outlets misrepresented the state minister's remarks as an attempt to legitimize bribery under the guise of gifts, which was deemed untrue and misleading. The ministry emphasized that the state minister, in his formal address, urged newly recruited assistant engineers of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) to conduct government development projects with promptness, transparency, and adherence to quality standards.
The minister also stressed the importance of maintaining the quality of work, avoiding personal biases, and ensuring that contractor payments are made appropriately. The official statement encouraged adherence to established procedures, emphasizing compliance with the PPR and PPA regulations in government spending and procurement.
However, the ministry clarified that certain informal remarks made during a conversation with the engineers were taken out of context by some media outlets, aiming to create controversy. The comparison of the state minister's remarks to the legitimization of bribery was labeled as undesirable political propaganda against the government's anti-corruption policies.
The government reiterated its commitment to transparency, accountability, and a zero-tolerance stance on corruption, asserting that no official in a responsible position should receive illegal benefits. Despite this, the state minister expressed regret and apologized for his remarks during a workshop at the LGED Building, which included municipal administrators and engineers. He retracted the informal comments and clarified that no government official was linked to them.
The ministry called upon the media to assist in combating corruption and ensuring transparency and accountability in government activities, urging cooperation rather than confusion over the state minister's remarks.