PM warns of stern action against corrupt employees

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday put emphasis on establishing good governance and graft-free administration to build a developed and prosperous country.

 “Establishing good governance and graft-free administration is a must to achieve our goal of building a hunger- and-poverty-free developed and prosperous Bangladesh,” she said.

The prime Minister said this while addressing officials of the Public Administration Ministry at Bangladesh Secretariat in the capital in the morning.

 “You’ll have to give specific directives up to the grassroots level, if anybody is indulged in corruption, proper action will have to be taken against him or her,” she told the authorities concerned.

Sheikh Hasina, who is also in-charge of the Public Administration Ministry, paid her first visit to the ministry after her re-election as the prime minister for the fourth time, reports BSS.

Through the visit to the Public Administration Ministry, the premier started her programme of visiting the ministries during her new term of office.

The prime minister said her government has raised the salary-allowances and other facilities of the government employees manifold.

 “I think there is no need for committing corruption as we’ve fulfilled all their requirements … why the graft will take place? The people will have to change their mentality,” she said.

State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain delivered the welcome address, while secretary of the ministry Faiz Ahmed gave an overview of the activities of the ministry.

The prime minister said her government has adopted ‘zero tolerance policy’ against terrorism, militancy and narcotics, while it declared a war against corruption.

“Our fight against terrorism and graft will continue,” she asserted.

Sheikh Hasina said the government increased everything including salary and allowances of the government employees.

 “I can say unhesitatingly that there is no such an instance in any country of the world of the rate we raised the salary of the government employees,” she said.

“We’ve made all arrangements including housing facilities for them at the upazila level so that they can provide public services in beautiful environment,” she added.

Sheikh Hasina also laid stress on giving promotion to the government officials on the basis of their efficiency.

 “In the case of giving promotion, priority will have to be given to efficiency, not only seniority … I think those who work with honesty and maintain discipline should be considered for promotion, she said.

Terming training as very important for the government officials, the prime minister underscored the need for imparting long-term training to them to achieve their efficiency.

 “It’s not possible to earn efficiency by the government officials through receiving only four-month training,” she said.