Brigadier General (Retd) M Sakhawat Hussain, who serves as the adviser for labour and employment as well as shipping, has said he found large-scale corruption in every ministry he has served since assuming office under the interim government.
Speaking today (14 December) at the inauguration of the Bangladesh Reform Tracker by the Citizen's Platform for SDGs, Sakhawat said, "Wherever I have gone, I have seen that in previous years, ministries were subjected to massive corruption.
"Bringing it down even to a manageable level is extremely tough," he added.
Sakhawat said it took him a year to drive out "entrenched mafias," but new ones are already emerging.
He described the current situation as fragile, saying governing under such circumstances is highly challenging. "It is not possible to carry out all reforms according to everyone's expectations within such a short time."
The adviser also noted that those attempting reforms often face political labelling. "When you try to work, at different times you are tagged as an ally of fascism," he said.
Referring to labour sector reforms, Sakhawat said the enactment of the Labour Act has been a major achievement, though many issues remain unresolved due to conflicts of interest.
He also highlighted progress in the port sector, saying investments worth $1 billion have already come in.
The adviser said, "I am a bit disappointed with the Election Commission. I do not agree with all the opinions given by the reform commission, and many of the election reform recommendations are not realistic," he said.
M Sakhawat Hussain / Ministry of Labour and Employment / Ministry of Shipping