Curb on corruption needs united fight

Administrative transparency key to good governance,
National Policy Review Forum told

Staff Correspondent
05 June, 2003

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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 out why 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.