Corruption will not be tolerated: PM

Desk Report: Reiterated her government's steadfast stance against corruption and misuse of public money, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said any irregularities or dishonesty in this regard won't be tolerated.

"We want to develop the country in such way for which three million people sacrificed their lives and my father served in jail most of his life. To fulfill their expectation, we will not tolerate any sorts of corruption or irregularities," she said.

The prime minister was addressing a function on the occasion of inaugurating the newly constructed building of the International Supreme Audit Institute (ISAI) at Audit Bhaban in Kakrail here.

Laying importance on a sound and modern audit department, the prime minister said there should be an effective audit system to ensure good governance and curtail corruption in the public financial system.

"Beyond the traditional audit, the audit department has to acquire competence in conducting institutional audit, performance audit, IT audit and environmental audit," she said.

The prime minister said a sound audit system plays an important role in finding out wastage, misappropriation and plundering of the public money, irregularities and unlawful payment, evasion of income tax and VAT and violation of the public financial rules and non-deposition of public money to government exchequer.

State Minister for Finance MA Mannan attended the function as special guest while Comptroller and Auditor General Masud Ahmed and Finance Secretary Muslim Chowdhury also spoke, among others.

Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General Md Iqbal Hossain gave a presentation on the role of Comptroller and Auditor General Office in establishing transparency and accountability of public expenditure.

The premier said audit monitoring and management system (AMMS) would be introduced very soon which will put in place an integrated audit system in all ministries in future and place a standard audit report to the parliament.

She said IT audit programme has already been launched and auditors are imparting training on IT audit at home and abroad. The government has decided to create an independent IT Audit Directory to expedite IT audit in the country.

Sheikh Hasina said a performance audit is being conducted by the Audit Department on preparatory programmes of SDG. Once the audit is completed, its recommendations would help implement the SDGs.

She urged all employees of the Bangladesh Audit and Accounts Department to discharge their duties with more competence and professionalism for saving public money and curbing corruption.

Highlighting the country's economic progress during the period of her government, the prime minister said necessary audit of the public expenditure is very crucial to continue the pace of development.

Sheikh Hasina said her government in its two successive tenures was able to curb corruption to a larger extent at different levels. Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) is performing freely and the commission, if they think it necessary, is also quizzing the ministers and parliament members.

Terming Bangladesh a country of immense prospect, the prime minister said the country has the determination and all resources to emerge as a vibrant economy in the world.

"We altogether want to ensure an inclusive development of the country to make Bangladesh a higher middle income one by 2021 and a developed one by 2041," she said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman during his short time in office had framed most of the laws necessary for an independent state.

At that time, Bangabandhu founded the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of Bangladesh in 1973 aimed at establishing good governance in the public financial management system.

BSS


risingbd/Dhaka/Jan 31, 2018/Saif/Nasim