Widespread corruption was committed in the name of development during the previous fascist regime, Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said in Parliament.
“It’s unfortunate for us that utter corruption was committed in the name of mega projects or development during the regime of the past fascist government. It is our realization after we came in power one month ago,” he said, replying to a supplementary question from opposition lawmaker Akhter Hossain (Rangpur-4) during the question-answer session in the House on Sunday.
Roads and streets in the northern region remained neglected, he said, describing the situation as unfortunate.
The government will not patronise such corruption in the future and will prioritise rural roads and communication, he said.
Alamgir, also the Secretary General of BNP, assured the House that their government won’t patronize such corruption in future. “InshaAllah, in the coming days, we will not tolerate any such corruption and will work giving the utmost importance to rural roads and communication,” said Fakhrul Islam.
Aktar Hossen in his question said the rural people are badly suffering due to poor roads as the earlier (fascist) government had undertaken mega projects (neglecting the rural road system).
The NCP lawmaker asked the minister whether this government would take measures to develop the roads.
In reply to another supplementary question from opposition Jamaat lawmaker Md Abdul Aleem (Bagerhat-4), the LGRD minister said the rural roads were not developed so significantly due to widespread corruption and nepotism during the tenure of the previous fascist government.
He said many rural roads were still unpaved and the government has already taken initiatives to upgrade these. “We have undertaken steps to pave the earthen (kachha) roads in phases,” said Fakhrul Islam.
