TIB voices concern over Transport Minister's 'extortion' remarks

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) believes that Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam appears to be seeking justification for a more serious offense by characterizing road extortion as a compromise-based transaction. The organization has voiced significant concern and condemnation regarding this.

TIB urges the Prime Minister to prioritize the purification of his own party to prevent corruption-promoting attempts from taking root. It emphasizes that if party purification is not prioritized, the citizens of the country will be left disheartened.

In a statement on Friday, TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said, 'The definition of extortion that the Transport Minister has put forward is completely contrary to the strong anti-corruption stance that almost every member of the cabinet, including him, has announced after assuming office. The ruling party's election manifesto and the Prime Minister's address to the nation, where a pledge has been made to effectively control and prevent corruption. Less than 48 hours after the lapse of this, the minister's comments trying to protect the cancer of extortion in the transport sector are very disappointing.

Through this, the Road Transport and Bridges Minister has embarrassingly underestimated the pledges given in his own party's election manifesto and the strong anti-corruption stance of the Prime Minister.'

Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said, 'The way he has positively interpreted, sided with and supported the existing extortion culture in the road and transport sector, he is clearly trying to legitimize an immoral and collusive corruption like extortion. The direct victims of which are various professionals and ordinary people related to the transport sector of this country, who have to bear the burden of this illegality directly and indirectly. Not only that, the way the welfare of the owners and workers has been presented as an excuse or shield for legitimacy here is not only misleading, but also a sign of a malicious attempt to keep the long-standing chaotic and anarchic system in this sector running with protection.’

The TIB Executive Director said, ‘If extortion on the roads is accepted in the name of compromise, how will the consistent application and expansion of the same principle be controlled in all other sectors including BRTA, health, education, social security, law and order, justice, passport, land, administration, etc., as well as government procurement, development projects, banks, electricity? - That question will naturally come to the fore. If the newly formed government has repeatedly announced in various speeches and statements, including its election manifesto, to prevent and effectively control corruption, is not empty talk or just aimed at achieving public satisfaction, then the statement of the minister must be rejected from the highest level of the government immediately and the minister must be held accountable in an exemplary manner through due process. It should be remembered that after the fall of authoritarianism, there has been a festival of multi-dimensional extortion, factionalism, and occupation throughout the country, there is no doubt that this position of the minister is not an isolated issue. At the same time, the current government should not forget that in February 2012, the Road Transport and Bridges Minister of the fallen authoritarian government also took the initiative to legalize extortion on the roads based on the same principle. TIB strongly protested and condemned it considering it suicidal. TIB is disappointed with the fear that the newly formed government is also walking on the same path.’

Calling on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said, ‘In order to ensure complete trust in the expectations that the countrymen have already created for you, give top priority to party purification and reform in your plan to prevent the suicidal path of a section of your party leaders and activists. Otherwise, the countrymen will be disappointed. As a result, the alternative will benefit such forces whose ideology, initiation and ambitions are in terrible conflict with the fundamental spirit and identity of Bangladesh, nurtured in exchange for blood from 1952 to 1971 to 1924. Honorable Prime Minister, it is time to set the right priorities.'