Rising Above Temptation Is the Core Duty of Public Representatives: Advisor Mohammad Fauzul Kabir Khan

Mohammad Fauzul Kabir Khan, Advisor to the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges and the Ministry of Railways, has said that the primary responsibility of public representatives is to rise above temptation.

In a Facebook post published on Friday morning, Khan shared personal experiences that reflect the ethical challenges faced by individuals in public office — and the importance of staying true to one’s principles.

He recounted an incident from a recent ministerial-level meeting in Sri Lanka. “In the presence of the country’s Energy Minister, the organizers handed me a gift. Back at the hotel, I opened the box and found a luxury branded wristwatch. I liked it and felt tempted. But upon returning home, I wrote to the Cabinet Secretary and submitted the watch to the Toshakhana,” he wrote.

In another example, Khan described a meeting with the head of an Indian power company (not Adani), who visited him along with the Chairman of the Bangladesh Power Development Board to express gratitude for settling outstanding dues. “Before leaving, he mentioned he had brought a small gift. I explained that there’s a strict value limit for acceptable gifts. When I opened it and saw an iPad, I was tempted again — my home iPad is quite old. But I returned it. Another advisor sitting nearby smiled at my decision,” he shared.

Khan clarified that he doesn’t reject all gifts, saying, “Foreign ministers and ambassadors often bring books, souvenirs, or non-commercial items like chocolates — as long as they’re within the allowed value range, I accept them. In return, I usually gift them books I’ve written. Thankfully, I’ve authored a few.”

He concluded, “I believe rising above temptation is the core duty of a public representative. Once that is achieved, everything else becomes easier. I hope the public will choose leaders with integrity in the upcoming elections.”