Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has called upon the media to disclose any faults or corruption within government bodies, asserting that such transparency is vital for rectifying mistakes and enhancing governmental accountability.
On Tuesday morning (29 October), following an inspection of the project titled “History, Heritage Preservation, and Peripheral Development of the Old Dhaka Central Jail,” he made this appeal to the media.
“If any errors or corruption occur within our ranks, please expose them,” the adviser stated.
“This will make us more vigilant and allow us to correct our actions. Point out our mistakes, but avoid reporting where there is no error. As humans, we are prone to make mistakes. Should corruption arise within, let us know without hesitation; I have no objection to this.”
Regarding the jail preservation project, the adviser commented, “The parking area within the jail is small and needs expansion. Additionally, the road outside must be widened to prevent congestion. Without this, visitors will face difficulty in parking and moving about.”
He added, “The project is progressing well, and I expect it to be completed within the allocated budget. In our country, a trend has emerged where budgets are initially set, only to be increased shortly thereafter. This practice must end; the project will be completed within the existing budget.”
The adviser further informed that a portion of the project is expected to be completed within the next six months.
Turning to recent traffic disruptions caused by road blockades by students from seven colleges, he remarked, “Those obstructing the roads are also the ones highlighting the traffic congestion. Now, tell me where I should go and provide a solution. If they move their programmes to Suhrawardy Udyan instead, it would reduce traffic congestion. Public awareness is essential here.”
Addressing the broader issue of traffic congestion in Dhaka, Jahangir Alam noted, “To alleviate traffic, we are even engaging students. Traffic has become a major issue. Roads are not expanding, yet the number of vehicles is increasing daily. People are coming to Dhaka for employment, and as the population rises, everyone wants road space. But if you ask for space, they won’t budge.”
