Salehuddin Ahmed stresses leadership integrity at ACC discussion on anti-corruption day

Strong political commitment is essential to reducing corruption in the country, Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed said today, emphasising that no anti-corruption effort can succeed without the sincere will of political leaders.

Speaking at a discussion organised by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy to mark International Anti-Corruption Day, Salehuddin warned that corruption cannot be curbed unless politicians set the right example.

"Political will must come first. If politicians act with integrity, society will not decay; instead, corruption will decline," he said.

He noted that corruption was once socially condemned, but the trend has reversed.

He said, "Earlier, corrupt individuals were shunned -- even their families faced social pressure. Today, corrupt people are celebrated, and social acceptance grows around them."

Salehuddin stressed that the financial sector urgently needs greater transparency and accountability. "Thousands of crores of taka have been looted. How do you punish everyone? The damage done to the nation is irreparable. Corruption must be exposed at all levels of society," he added.

Addressing the event, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) Director General Dr AK Enamul Haque said corruption cannot be eliminated through punishment alone. Public awareness, he argued, is key to prevention.

He pointed out that while 14–15 forms of corruption exist in Bangladesh, public discussions often focus solely on bribery. "Corruption has become a science -- new methods emerge every day," he said.

ACC Chairman Mohammad Abdul Momen presided over the programme, which was attended by ACC Commissioner Miah Muhammad Ali Akbar Azizi and Brig Gen (retd) Hafiz Ahsan Farid.