PM says anti-graft drive is not 'eyewash'

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said her government launched a massive anti-graft campaign ignoring the suspected culprits' background and urged people to wait to see their fate, trashing BNP suspicions that it was "eyewash".

"It makes no difference whether one is close to us or not, whoever is found corrupt is being caught," the premier told a press conference at her Ganabhaban official residence as asked for comments on the BNP allegations.

She added: "Let's wait and see whether it is eyewash or not." 

The premier said it was rather BNP which knew it well the business of 'eyewash' as they adopted "corruption" as part of their policy.

The premier called the press conference this afternoon to brief the media about her recent Azerbaijan visit to join the Non-Align Movement (NAM) 
Summit.

She said actions were underway against the corrupt elements linked to her own Awami League the way BNP chief Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Zia were exposed to justice.

The premier said the drive would continue while several BNP leaders awaited punitive actions on charges of crimes like unbridled corruption, arson attacks, murders and money laundering. 

"All of them will be exposed to justice in phases . . . there is no doubt about it, but we'll have to wait for that for some time," she said.

The premier alleged that it was BNP's founder Ziaur Rahman who initiated the culture of money laundering and loan defaults in the country alongside derailing the country's meritorious students through giving them firearms to stage campus showdowns.

"Ershad went one step ahead (regarding corrupt practices) while his successor Khaleda Zia launched a shop like 'Hawa Bhaban' and started taking bribe in the name of development . . . but, no such thing happened after we assumed office," she said.