Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday vowed to continue the ongoing anti-corruption drive saying that none would be spared in line with her announcement of zero tolerance policy against graft.

“When I have started the drive, I will not spare the corrupts no matter who they are and what their positions are. I do not even consider who is close [to me] or not. I must implement it as I have announced the ‘zero tolerance policy’," she said.

The prime minister made these remarks while replying to a question at a press conference arranged at her official residence Ganabhaban to discuss the outcomes of her recent three-day bilateral visit to China from 8 July to 10 July.

She said it is her responsibility to take the country to a healthy system by removing such irregularities.

“The drive will continue. There is no doubt, I do not think that the image of my government would be hampered if the drive is carried out. No, I do not believe it.”

Sheikh Hasina said now the people have known about the matter of corruption in different sectors as her government took a tougher stance against it. "No one in the past had conducted drives in such a way against corruption."

She said her government earlier promised to stamp out militancy from the country showing the "zero tolerance policy" against the social curse.

"We have done it successfully. Now, we are taking measures against corruption and it will continue until it is wiped out."

In this context, she mentioned that a peon who earlier worked in her house is now the owner of Tk400 crore and cannot move without a helicopter. When she came to know, she took action against him, said the prime minister.

In an oblique reference to Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, she said the trial of some corruption cases have also been criticised though the accused committed corruption and misappropriated money of workers.