Police forces in Bangladesh recently arrested several top politicians on charges of corruption. The arrests have led many other politicians to go into hiding.

One sector of expatriate Bangladeshis expressed their approval of the arrests, while another sector stated that the present caretaker government should not have made them.

Al Mossabir, president of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal [Bangladeshi political party] in the United States, said that the caretaker government was correct to make the arrests. Their actions will be taken as a sign of hope for the common people.

The former president of Bangladesh Society, Mujib Ur Rahman, said the arrest had been expected. Those found in possession of black-market money should be punished, he added, irrespective of their party affiliations. According to him, many of the leaders of the two largest political parties in Bangladesh have proven to be corrupt. Therefore, they would never bring criminal charges and bring others to trial since they themselves are involved in corruption. Only the caretaker government is capable of arresting these big corrupt elements.

Black-market criminals should be arrested and their identities should be placed on voter lists prior to the next election in Bangladesh. If necessary, the caretaker government should be given three years to take care of these corrupt politicians,” Mujib Ur Rahman.

Mohammed Hossen Khan, former chief election commissioner of Bangladesh Society, said: “I demand the punishment of the corrupt politicians.”

Professor Sawpan, a prominent realtor, said some people think of Bangladesh as their own personal property and care little about their misdeeds. “I congratulate the caretaker government for taking this kind of action,” he added.

Nini Wahed, a well known journalist, said Bangladesh is now ready to prosecute those who have been destroying the country. “But I don’t agree that we should blame only the politicians for corruption. The politicians always are caught, but the bureaucrats involved in it remain untouched. I think the bureaucrats should also be arrested along with the politicians. The caretaker government should go after those members of civil society, journalists, intellectuals and whoever else may be involved in the corruption.”

Kazi Shamshuddoha, a noted businessman and community advocate in Jackson Heights, Queens, said that he supported the police arrests. “The popularity of the caretaker government will be heightened because of the arrests,” he added. “If there were an election now and the members of the caretaker government participated in it, they would be elected with large margins of votes.”

Abu Mohammed Nuruzzaman, president of the Muslim Ummah of North America, said, “We want the corrupt people to be caught. But I also want to demand that no innocent person be harassed unnecessarily at the hands of the caretaker government.”

Mohammed Mostafa Kamal, the owner of the novelty discount and grocery stores at 36th Avenue in Astoria, Queens, said, “I am happy with the success of the caretaker government. They have started to work at combating corruption and I hope soon they will be able to present Bangladesh as a corruption-free country. We pray to God for their long life.”