Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Iqbal Mahmood on Sunday urged for social movement creating public awareness so that women are not victimized for owning illegal wealth accumulated by male family members.
The issue came up on the context of a reality that in certain cases males show their female family members as owners of illegal assets even without the knowledge of the women.
The ACC chairman made his urge while speaking in a program titled "Family Liability of Income and Wealth Earned through Corruption: Women's Role, Risk and Solution" at the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) auditorium in Dhaka, according to a TIB press release.
Speaking as the chief guest, Iqbal said 118 cases and allegations were pending with the ACC as it could not be ascertained whether the women accused in those were actually involved at their will or not.
There are two questions in front of ACC regarding these cases, one is legal and other is humanitarian, he said, adding that in one hand legal steps can be taken against those women who own illegal properties, while on the other hand punishing the women, who do not have any income source and were directed to sign the papers by family members, is not humanitarian.
Urging the women to be more aware of corruption, he also said that sustainable development is not possible without empowering women and ensuring women's right to earn legal wealth.
Mentioning that 70% of the cases in the ACC are being resolved, Iqbal said 100% cases are not being solved due to fault in the commission's investigation as well as social reasons.
Prof Asif Nazrul, a Law Department teacher in Dhaka University, said women earning illegal wealth are involved with the powerful people of the society.
Addressing the program, Women leader Rokeya Kabir said though equality is a constitutional right for the women, the right is not established in the country's law, social system or even in the family.
Prof Dilara Chowdhury said women are being devalued socially due to faulty socialization process.
ActionAid Bangladesh Country Director Farah Kabir also said corruption can be prevented through creating awareness.
TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman added that the negative impact of corruption affects women the most. For this reason, TIB will work to aware people about it.
Among others, Khushi Kabir, Shahin Anam, Tanvir Ahmed Siddique, Shammi Akhter also spoke at the program.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
