ACC chief says audacity of corrupt people has crossed limit

Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman Iqbal Mahmood has said that the 'audacity of corrupt people has crossed the limit' and urged the youths to raise their voice against graft.

He was speaking at a discussion organised by the commission in Dhaka for youths on International Anti-Corruption Day on Saturday.

The ACC chairman said corruption is like ‘drug addiction,’ and to give the next generation a chance, the country should be free from corruption.

“For the addiction to money and power, they are prevalent everywhere now… in bank looting, bribery in government work, irregularities in businesses, question paper leaks.        

“Their audacity has crossed the limit,” he said.

Iqbal Mahmood said it would not be possible for the commission alone to end corruption.

“It can work as a catalyst. I urge people from all walks of life that they must unite and raise their voice against corruption at least to give the next generation a society free from graft,” he said.

Professor Muhammad Zafar Iqbal told the youths that there was no need for much money to live a happy life.

“If you get involved in graft, how will you feel in front of the mirror? Your mind will say that it’s the reflection of a thief,” he said.

“If you want to be happy, your first step is, to be honest; never do wrong and let others do wrong, and do things for others selflessly,” said the teacher of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology.

Prof Muhammad Zafar Iqbal.

He recalled how his family passed the days after the Liberation War. 

“We had only one shirt. We, three brothers, shared it. My elder brother Humayun Ahmed (the late writer) used to go out wearing that shirt if he had some job. I wore the same shirt when he returned. That’s how we passed the days.

“Many others of this country struggled much more than me, but life went on,” he said.   

Professor Zafar Iqbal, who is also a writer, said he earned happiness from ‘creative’ work like writing, reading, listening music, and thinking something positive.

“I am a human being. I was not born only to earn money and sit on those,” he said.

“You won’t have to run after money, but money will run after you if you become good, competent,” he told the youths.

He advised the youths to pay attention to develop skills, not to earn money as the number of skilled people who know how to solve problems, was very small.

Among others, ACC Commissioners Nasiruddin Ahmed and AFM Aminul Islam, and Secretary Shamsul Arefin were present at the discussion.