Md. Bellal Hossain Naeem:
Barrister A. M. Mahbub Uddin Khokon has strongly criticized the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), calling it an ‘ineffective’ and ‘corrupt’ institution. He said, “Corruption is the highest within the ACC. Whenever the government is in power, the ACC flatters the government.
On the one hand, the ACC harasses small matters, and on the other hand, it gives certificates to big businessmen by taking money. The character of the ACC as a state organization of Bangladesh needs to be changed.
He said these things while speaking as the chief guest at an inaugural program organized by the Chatkhil Upazila Agricultural Extension Department of Noakhali on Friday morning at the Upazila Parishad Hallroom.
Keeping in mind the slogan ‘Agriculture is prosperity’, the program was organized with the aim of implementing the election promise of the Bangladesh government of ‘planting 25 crore trees in 5 years’ program and distributing Aman paddy, chilli, vegetable seeds, fertilizers and other inputs among farmers under the agricultural rehabilitation assistance sector for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
Barrister Khokon said that many good people were laid off during the previous government. The search committee formed to appoint the current ACC chairman and commissioner He urged them to “We hope that the search committee will appoint people who will only work against corruption and will not indulge in nepotism, partisanship or political flattery.”
He mentioned that people are hoarding money at home after losing trust in banks, which is hampering reinvestment and increasing unemployment. He also highlighted corruption in road and government development projects, saying that the same firm is getting work repeatedly online and despite the poor quality of work, engineers are paying bills before the work is completed in many places.
Due to the lack of proper monitoring system, the road is collapsing after a year. In this situation, he clearly warned, “No opportunity will be given for corruption or pond theft in my area.”
Giving a strong message against the market syndicate to protect the rights of local farmers, he said that according to the government’s rules, paddy should be purchased from the area where it is grown, bringing paddy from outside is completely illegal.
In addition, to maintain the balance of the environment and eliminate the oxygen crisis, he requested every family, regardless of party affiliation, to plant at least 10 saplings. If they do not have the money to buy saplings, he announced that he would provide the money from his own fund.
The meeting, which began with a welcome speech by Chatkhil Upazila Agriculture Officer Mr. Md. Junaid Alam, was presided over by Chatkhil Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mr. Mizanur Rahman.
Barrister Khokon directed the police administration to strictly ensure the safety of the lives and property of the local people, including expatriate families, and said, “No concession will be given to anyone who disrupts the security of the people, regardless of the party they belong to.” He concluded his speech by urging the field-level agricultural officers to visibly provide services and advice to the farmers instead of sitting in their offices.
Upazila BNP convener Advocate Abu Hanif, senior joint convener Shahjahan Rana, member secretary Farid Ahmed, municipal BNP convener former mayor Mostafa Kamal, member secretary Ahsanul Haque Masud, and others also spoke.
