Change
in the political leaders' attitude
and will, and combined effort by
the political parties, civil society
and administration are required
to fight corruption and improve
the judiciary. Speakers at a dialogue
yesterday also felt transparency
in administration and public service
system is a prerequisite to ensuring
good governance and a corruption-free
society.
During the working sessions of three-day
National Policy Review Forum 2003,
orgainsed by the Centre for Policy
Dialogue (CPD), The Daily star and
the Prothom Alo, a cross section
of experts thrashed out a number
of factors that call for immediate
attention.
Prof. Rehman Sobhan, chairman of
the CPD, chaired the session while
former director general of the Bureau
of Anti-corruption Md Badiuzzaman
presented the keynote paper. Gathering
at the Academy for Planning &
Development Auditorium, speakers
dwelled on the final draft recommendations
in the Task Force Report on Governance
(Corruption and Judiciary) and endorsed
formation of an independent anti-corruption
commission, capable of launching
investigation against any individual.
"Corruption is a social cancer.
If we have to address corruption
we have to start from the very top
in the administration. How many
ministers in the past have been
punished for corruption? Trial starts
but the accused gets away with the
change of government. This has been
our normal practice," Professor
Moinul Islam of Dhaka University
said.
Advocate Sigma Huda meanwhile said,
"Often it is noticed that the
anti-corruption bureau harasses
innocent civilians using their power.
This is objectionable. The anti-corruption
bureau is to investigate and try
government officials, not civilians."The
anti-corruption bureau is being
used to harass and humiliate political
leaders, observed Abdul Matin Khasru,
the former law and justice minister
of Awami League government.
"Interestingly, very few bureaucrats
have faced corruption charges. The
present laws and rules of the anti-corruption
bureau are defective."We appreciate
the cabinet for approving formation
of an independent graft body. But
there should be a timeframe for
approval of it in the parliament."
He also felt the need for citizens'
watchdog to help check corruption
where independent media can play
a vital role."I am also in
favour of effective parliamentary
standing committees to curb financial
and administrative crime."
Amena Mohsin, another teacher from
Dhaka University, pointed out that
law should be used impartially against
everybody. "Permission from
the prime minister is required to
lodge corruption case against senior
bureaucrats. Why should we not let
the law take its own course?"
Prominent politician Dr Kamal Hossain
pointed at the link between crisis
of good governance and corruption."People
are sick and tired of corruption,
and we have not been able to address
this over the years. Very sadly
though, Transparency International
has indexed Bangladesh as one of
the most corrupts nation in the
world."
Former industries secretary Al Ameen
Choudhury urged all to find outwhy
corruption occurs and ways to prevent
it."Corruption has its roots
everywhere. Not only it's in the
public service system but also in
the private sector. So, merely an
independent anti-corruption body
would not be able to stop corruption.
"For example, the telephone
sector had monopoly business. So
it was easy to cheat public and
make money. But once private sector
entered with mobile phone venture,
corruption in the telephone sector
dropped sharply," Choudhury
said. Chief guest Food Minister
Abdullah Al Noman, special guest
and AL lawmaker Suranjit Sengupta
and Editor of Prothom Alo Motiur
Rahman also spoke.
