A cross-section of people have criticised the finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith for saying that everyone in society was indirectly corrupt while they maintained that people were rather victims of ‘all pervasive corruption’ committed by a few politically powerful quarters.
Inaugurating a hotline number of the Anti-Corruption Commission for receiving corruption allegations on July 27, Muhith said that corruption had infiltrated into ‘our veins’ and so everyone in society was indirectly corrupt.
Reacting to his remark, the common people said that everyone were not involved in corruption, but victims of corruption as they had to suffer at different stages, particularly in getting service, for corrupt practices by a section of public servants.
Sultana Yasmin, a housewife, said that she was never involved in any corruption but was forced to pay extra for different services, including admission and other fees of her school going children.
She said that the people were sometimes bound to pay kickbacks under compelling circumstances.
Sultana requested all concerned to show respect to the common people while making comments.
Mamun Hossain, a day labourer in the capital, said that he was also a corrupt person if the minister’s remark was true.
He, however, could not understand how he was involved in corruption.
‘I earn every penny with heavy physical efforts and purchase everything by the hard-earned money,’ Mamun said, asking how the minister called him corrupt.
Sheikh Ashiqur Rahman, a university student, said that the remarks of the minister would encourage corrupt public servants to do more corruption.
‘Are the people responsible if the politicians turned corrupt after they were elected by the commoners,’ he asked.
If the answer was yes, he would have no objection to admit that he was a corrupt person, the student added.
Osman Gani Sobuj, a college teacher in Lakshmipur, said that the minister’s remark was an insult to the common people. The minister delivered speeches hurting common people earlier too, he mentioned.
He asked the minister to withdraw the remark and regret.
Former caretaker government adviser M Hafizuddin Khan did not agree with Muhith, saying that was never involved in corruption.
‘I have some friends, who have retired from government services. I know they never entertained corrupt practices,’ Hafizuddin, also a retired civil servant, said, adding that the common people were rather victims of corruption.
The government’s services and procurement sectors were hubs of corruption and the common people were just sufferers from corruption committed by a section of people, he mentioned.
At the Anti-Corruption Commission’s programme, Muhit also said that if the general people did not indulge in corruption or receive services through corrupt means, corruption would decrease.
Hafizuddin said that the government and the other authorities concerned were responsible for making sure corruption-free service providing system.
‘If a senior minister ask people not to bribe public servants, they [government officials] will treat the remarks an opportunity,’ he added.
Rez Ul Islam, a CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver, said that Muhith’s remarks were not correct as he was forced to bribe officials for road permit for his auto-rickshaw.
Sirajul Islam, a tea vendor, said that he used to pay money to ‘line-men’ for continuing his business at his roadside stall. ‘If I refuse to give money to line-men, they would just shut my business, so how can I ignore to pay?’
Source: New Age