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Greed for money and wealth give birth to corruption. Failure of governance or a system is responsible for the spread of corruption, speakers at a seminar said.
The existing state machinery is not competent enough to curb or stamp out corruption and attain sustainable development, the speakers observed.
"The proponents of development in the World Bank (WB) always blame failure of the system for the emergence of rampant corruption. It is absolutely true. Developed countries with good governance system are also not out of corruption. Actually, corruption spreads due to lust for unlimited money by people," said Transparency International (TI) Bangladesh Trustee Professor Muzaffar Ahmed at a seminar Thursday.
The seminar on 'corruption, ethics and sustainable development in the context of Bangladesh' was organised by the North South University (NSU) in the city with professor Rafiqul Islam Mollah of NSU was in the chair.
It was also addressed by former Chief Election Commissioner Justice Abdur Rouf, Retired Comptroller and Auditor General Hafizuddin Khan, professor Aminul Islam of Dhaka University (DU), professor Harunur Rashid, Dr. Ataur Rahman, professor Hazif G.A. Siddiqi of NSU, Father Benjamin Costa of Notre Dame College, Dr. Paresh Chandra Mandal and Dr. Sukamal Barua of DU and Dr. Golam Dastagir of Jahangir University.
"According to corruption perception index (indicator used to measure corruption) of TI no country in the world is free of corruption. Good governance can mitigate corruption, but sound ethical practice by an individual can eradicate corruption," added Muzaffar Ahmed.
He heavily came down on the concept of public office for private gain as it goes against the ethics and public interest. Without government intervention market forces can not ensure justice toward sustainable development, rather it behaves like monopolistic forces, he added.
He suggested for inclusion of poor into mainstream development, which will ensure sustainable development.
"Our existing state machinery is not in a strong position to leash the rampant corruption, which has penetrated every sphere of national life as no corrupt figure excepting a former autocratic has been tired," said Hafizuddin Khan.
Abdur Rouf stressed on regular practice of moral and ethical issues in day-to-day life to stay out of corruption.
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