DHAKA, Dec 9, 2024 (BSS) - Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul today said the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the judiciary became slave during the last government's rule and that is why corruption incidents were not brought to the justice.

"ACC went through reform on different occasions. It has been empowered through repeated reforms. But in the last 15 years, only corruption has been seen. Apex court was there, the ACC was there, but no corruption cases were tried. Because, they could not tell anything in front of her (Sheikh Hasina), they became her slaves," he said.

The law adviser said these while addressing as the chief guest a discussion organized by the ACC marking International Anti-Corruption Day at Institute of Diploma Engineers in the capital.

Referring to the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, the law adviser said, her former peon amassed Taka 400 crore and she was seen narrating that in front of the nation, with smile on her face.

"Corruption became recognized ideology during the tenure of the past government. Corruption incidents were not brought to the book, rather the sense that corruption is bad and negative, got extinct," he said.

 Dr Asif Nazrul further said BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia was sentenced to 10-year jail only due to procedural errors in the case.

Calling upon the ACC officials to work diligently, the law adviser said, now time has changed, none is interfering in their work, adding, "More than hundred ministers and businessmen amassed hundreds of crores each through corruption during the tenure of the past government. Now you probe those cases, prove that you can work provided with the appropriate condition. Prove that their corruption couldn't pollute your hearts and consciences and that is the desire of people from you."

Urging for upholding the glory of the sacrifice of the martyrs of 1971 and July-August mass uprising, the law adviser said our children gifted us new time sacrificing their blood, let us learn from them, let us use our conscience to stay away from corruption and respect their expectations.

Presided over by ACC secretary Khorsheda Yasmin, the discussion was addressed, among others, by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman.