Terming making money illegally ‘a disease’, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has warned that her government will not allow anybody to lead a lavish life with stolen money.
“Someone will lead a luxurious life with the illegally-earned money, while someone will suffer from miseries by leading an honest and simple life – it cannot be tolerated,” she told the inaugural function of triennial council of Dhaka North and South City units of Bangladesh Awami League at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka on Saturday (Nov 30).
Hasina, also the president of Bangladesh Awami League (AL), reaffirmed to continue her government’s ongoing drive against corruption, saying that the hard-earned money of the people will be spent for their welfare, not for leading lavish life by anybody.
“We’re continuing our drives against terrorism, militancy and narcotics … we’re also keeping up our drives against graft and these drives will go on. Because, the hard-earned money of the people will be spent for their welfare, not for leading a lavish life by anybody,” she said.
The prime minister said leading an honest and simple life is a matter of huge honour than having ‘biriyani’ and ‘pulau’ (rich food) and wearing brand clothes or other things through the illegal money.
“Those who make money illegally always think about the stolen money. Actually, it’s a disease … those, who once made money illegally, only wish to do the same. But those who earn money in the honest way could sleep in peace,” she said.
The AL president said the children of those who earn money illegally go to the wrong path, their studies are destroyed and they get addicted to drugs due to that money.
“The parents of these children have no time to look after their sons and daughters. They’ve no attention to the fact that their family is ruining … they’re continuing to run after money,” she said.
The premier continued: “We don’t want such a social condition … we want everybody to earn money in an honest way and move with honour.”
Hasina said, for leading a lavish life, the people may applause verbally those who earn money illegally. “But the people actually will scold them from behind, saying that they’re corrupts and thieves,” she said.
The prime minister said the case for which Khaleda Zia is serving jail is a corruption case, not a political one
“The case was filed against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia for embezzling the orphans’ money and she is now in jail after being convicted in that case,” she said.
In this connection, the AL chief said many people want to give this case a political colour. “We didn’t lodge any case against her politically. But after coming to power in 2001, the BNP government sued me with 12 cases,” she said.
Referring to the unbridled terrorism, militancy, corruption and money laundering during the BNP-Jamaat regime from 2001-2006, Hasina said Bangladesh was turned into a country of these social menaces at that time.
“Begum Khaleda Zia and her two sons had indulged in bribery and graft and it was disclosed in the FBI investigation, not only in our probe,” she said.
The prime minister said the BNP leader was convicted in the case filed by the caretaker government, and her beloved and close persons were in that government,” she said.
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