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BANGLADESH has been adorned with the badge of the most corrupt country in the world for five consecutive years in the assessment of Transparency International (TI). Therefore, for all round improvement of governance the immediate launching of an unrelenting drive against corruption is required. There is nothing for the government to lose in such a drive but everything to gain in terms of public approval and appreciation because the people are also all for stern actions against corruption just as they are eager to see improvement in law and order.
The battle against corruption will have to be also started and guided very expertly without creating disruption and earning accusations of excesses or wrong identification of the corrupt ones. Besides, the anti-corruption drive must not be limited to only nabbing individuals and leaving it there. The existing Anti-corruption Commission will have to be made more resourceful and it should be sufficiently empowered.
Furthermore, strict accountability rules must be established at all tiers of the civil administration and measures will have to be taken to enforce the same strictly and scrupulously. The penalties for corruption in administration must be made a lot more tougher for the deterrent effect of the same. The accountability procedures and penalties must not be limited to only the regular civil services but should extend to officials of all state-owned corporations, nationalised financial sector and other autonomous bodies under the government. Ways should be found also for bringing private sector bodies like banks, companies, etc., under better accountability and penalty procedures.
Fayaz Murshed
Aminabad Colony
Dhaka
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