Continue drive against corruption ‘without creating panic’

FE Team | Published: July 01, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

FE Report
Speakers at a roundtable discussion Saturday urged the government to continue the drive against corruption without creating panic among the businessmen for maintaining the sustainable economic growth.
The participants said even small traders should not be panicky due to ongoing drive against corruption. The state of confidence should be restored, they said.
The discussants viewed these at the roundtable on 'Sharing the Anti-Corruption Experience" organised by the weekly Probe News Magazine at the national press club.
Renowned Pakistani columnist and analyst, Ikram Sehgal, was the main speaker and Coordinator of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) for Anti-Corruption, Masud Uddin Chowdhury was the special guest in the programme.
Besides academic scholars, newsmen and ambassador, economists Mahbubullah, Hossain Zillur Rahman and security analyst Syed Muhammad Ibrahim spoke at the function as designated speakers.
Ikram Sehgal said anti-corruption drive in Pakistan functioned very well in the first six months of President Parvez Mosharraf regime. National Accountability Board (NAB) of Pakistan also achieved much credibility. "But all those were lostâ€¦.." he said.
"You must have the knowledge as to who can run the institutions. What have you achieved in six months in Bangladesh is truly remarkable," he said
Masud Uddin Chowdhury said it is true that panic was created among the small traders due to eviction of establishments. "The government has taken the initiatives for rehabilitating the poor," Masud said.
He said discussion on corruption has occupied center-stage in political, economic and development forums across the region, and governments are increasingly promoting initiatives to improve transparency to fight back corruption.
"Absence of good governance encourages corruption. Since long ago the political parties had been in the top list of the global corruption barometer as identified by the Transparency International. But truly speaking the political parties alone cannot indulge in corruption unless they are backed by the administration," he said.
Replying to a query Masud Uddin Chowdhury said nobody would be spared if he is found guilty. "Wait and see" he said while he was replying to the query of participants on the arrest of the reformists.
He said if the chief prosecutor of the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) does not work well, actions will also be taken against him.
He said Bangladesh has recorded impressive economic and social gains since 1990s.
"We had a steady economic growth of 4-5 per cent annually, relatively low inflation, and fairly stable domestic debt, interest and exchange rates," Masud said.
Terming the country's private sector as dynamic and vibrant Mahbubullah said the well functioning of market economy lowers corruption.
He urged the government to restore the confidence even among the petty traders for maintaining a sustainable economic growth in the country.
Hossain Zillur Rahman said before assuming the state power by the incumbent government people, were divided into two camps. Now people are divided into three camps ---- Awami League, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and mass people," he said.
He urged the government to address four issues including misuse of public office for gaining money, criminal economic activities, tax evasion and brining informal economy to legal bounds.