The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has identified 12 major sources of corruption and irregularities in the Department of Environment (DoE) of the country.
The ACC has disclosed this in its 2022 annual report.
There is corruption in project implementation, graft in licensing brick kilns, environmental clearances to industries, refraining from taking follow-up action, environmental pollution by industrial establishments of hidden economy, political influence and lack of commitment, and business influence.
Other sources of corruption are administrative constraints, and a dearth of manpower with expertise in the environment, soft skills training and also proper monitoring, according to the report.
Citing a recent research report styled 'Governance Challenges and Pathways', the ACC stated illegal financial transactions through illegal means at various stages of obtaining environmental clearances. Quoting a TIB study, the ACC report said nearly 51 per cent of the industries covered in the survey were operating with expired permits.
Again, 70 per cent of those industries did not even apply for renewal till the time of data collection.
Even irregularities were noticed in the implementation of different projects, the ACC mentioned. An estimated Tk 4.0 billion was approved for 'Clean Air and Sustainable Environment' CASE) project.
"But there were allegations of misappropriation in connivance with contractors by producing fake bill vouchers doing substandard work or even without doing any work at all in some cases."
The actual extent of corruption may be revealed if physical verification is conducted in the project, according to the report.
About kilns, it said public perception is that they are embezzling support money received from the government by making false claims of adopting modern technology like chimney pattern and brick burning method.
The ACC formed 25 separate entity-specific institutional teams for identifying sources of corruption that are created due to cumbersomeness of existing laws or regulations, lack of institutional capacity or manpower shortages in various ministries, departments or agencies.
These teams are also expected to make recommendations on the steps to be taken, from a realistic point of view, to offset these causes.
Accordingly, an ACC institutional team comprising a director, a deputy director and an assistant director was assigned to explore DoE activities.
Examining relevant laws and regulations, analysing management procedure and measuring the extent of waste of public money under its current system, the team recommended removing limitations and obstacles and preventing corrupt practices there.
The teams reviewed the information collected during their enquiry through discussions with retired and current officials of DoE and its stakeholders.
Taking to the FE, TIB executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said failure to take action for accountability in due process despite finding cognisable evidence of various acts of corruption and irregularities raises a question whether the ACC is influenced by the identity and status of the individuals involved.
"Inaction in such cases of collusive corruption where public officials are among key actors together with politically powerful business people may also be an outcome of increasing bureaucratic influence in the operations of the ACC for which decisions and actions are bedeviled by conflict of interest."
If this trend continues, corruption deepens and widens. By the same token, public trust in the ACC will further erode, observed Dr Zaman.
ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan said the ACC could not take action against those corrupt DoE officials and others when the report was prepared.
However, the ACC must take action against those to be found corrupt in the coming days if the offences fall under its jurisdiction as the ACC team has already launched a deeper enquiry in this regard.
Most likely, the ACC is investigating the sources of corruption charges it mentioned in its report, Mr Alam told the FE. The ACC has decided to send the report to the cabinet division and the ministries concerned in a bid to address irregularities and causes of failure, eradicate sources of corruption and consider the ways forward.
It suggested fighting irregularities, criminal activities and corrupt practices besetting the exercise of authority at the DoE to keep pertinent acts and rules at play for protecting the environment.
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