Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus today said neither business nor development will function if we cannot eliminate corruption.

He said this while addressing the nation on the occasion of Independence Day and upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr.

Prof Yunus said that the [previous] authoritarian government had taken corruption to the highest level in the world. Corruption not only causes an unbelievable increase in expenses but also distorts all government and public initiatives.

"The entire world has realised that, as a nation, we do not uphold honesty. This is not just a matter of national disgrace but also a self-destructive issue in international trade. Just as the people of this country want to be free of corruption, the international community also wants the same because they wish to expand trade and business with us," he said.

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He added, "If we cannot eliminate corruption, business and commerce will not function. There is no alternative for Bangladesh but to rid itself of corruption."

Prof Yunus said that the interim government has prioritised making all its activities corruption-free. Alongside ensuring that this government remains free of corruption, he said that the government is committed to establishing a system that will prevent future governments from fostering corruption.

He said, "In a bid to prevent corruption and bureaucratic harassment, we are focusing on a key initiative: ensuring that no citizen has to physically visit any government office for routine daily, monthly, or annual tasks. As part of the anti-corruption effort, a decision has been made to introduce e-filing in all government offices. Once implemented, this system will reduce corruption, as it will allow easy tracking of where a file is stuck within an office."