In a house where binoculars are needed to find Opposition MPs, it has been left to a few clean lawmakers in the ruling Awami League to raise the corruption issue in the Bangladesh parliament.

Actress-lawyer turned politician Tarana Halim, with a stellar reputation of standing up against the high and mighty, flagged the mounting corruption in government and public life during a recent speech in parliament.

“There is one who buys ten houses abroad if he is not feeling well. We buy one or two sarees if we are upset,” quipped Ms Halim.

She demanded the government to disclose the names of all those involved in money laundering irrespective of party affiliation (including her own party Awami League).

This no-holds-barred attack comes in the wake of a sensational murder of Bangladesh MP Anwarul Azim Anar in Kolkata’s posh New Town last month, which brought to light involvement of several Awami League bigwigs because it’s alleged Anar was involved in gold smuggling and had powerful rivals in both underworld and in his party. His brutal murder, with body parts chopped into a hundred or so pieces, rattled public conscience in both Bangladesh and West Bengal.

Halim lost her ministry resisting some proposed corrupt deals in the Telecom ministry in 2018 which involved Beximco owned by PM Hasina’s now advisor Salman Rahman. Rahman enjoys the backing of some important members of the PM family which proved to be Ms Halim.

For a long time she was sidelined but Halim was brought back to Awami League Central Executive Committee before the parliament polls and into the parliament through a woman reserved seat.

What Tarana Halim has raised has not surprised anyone in what is now one of the most corrupt........

© Eurasia Review