War criminals in politics means graft
Says Kamal LohaniInt'l Anti-Corruption Day today
Artistes perform at a youth rally at Rabindra Sarobor in the city yesterday organised by Transparency International Bangladesh on the eve of International Anti-Corruption Day.Photo: STAR
The presence of war criminals in politics and resistance by some politicians against the war crimes trial reveal that corruption has penetrated the country's political and cultural sectors, said journalist Kamal Lohani yesterday. “Corruption is no more limited only to the social and economic sectors. It has already extended its reach to the political and cultural sectors too. “It is some infamous politicians who allowed the butchers of 1971 to come back and become involved in the politics of independent Bangladesh,” he said. The veteran journalist was addressing a youth rally at Rabindra Sarobor in the city, attended by a large number of people, especially youths. Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB) organised the rally on the eve of International Anti-Corruption Day, being celebrated today. Lohani pointed out that claims over Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, the underground radio channel of independent Bangladesh, being run by Indian artistes and engineers during the War of Liberation is just propaganda. Nothing was accepted from India for the radio station in 1971, except for two recorders and a transmitter, he added. “Those spreading the propaganda never participated in the War of Liberation. They do not have any idea about the station. We established Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra as a revolutionary radio,” said Lohani. During yesterday's rally, Youth Engagement and Support (YES), a youth platform formed through the inspiration of TIB, staged a drama. Afterwards, artists from Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra rendered songs based on the War of Liberation. Speaking at the programme, State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Capt (retd) AB Tajul Islam pledged to continue rallying for the completion of the war crimes trial. TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman, said, “Corruption is one of the major obstacles to achieving the objectives of the War of Liberation and to establish a country free of deprivation. “The struggle for a deprivation-free country is still going on and we do not want to wait for another century to achieve it. Today's youths will be the soldiers of our current struggle against corruption.” TIB Secretary General Selina Hossain urged the youths to pledge to free the country from corruption. Marking the day, TIB chalked out programmes, including a cartoon exhibition and cultural programmes, for the next fortnight. Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), its countrywide corruption prevention committees and educational institutions across the country will also observe daylong programmes which will include discussions, debates and documentary screening. The ACC will inaugurate the programmes with an “anti-corruption rally” from its city headquarters at 10:00am. Special supplements will also be published in four national newspapers to mark the occasion.
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