A rally of eminent economists, civil-society elite and academics Tuesday called for creating a strong platform of business bodies to ensure corruption- free business in Bangladesh, besides making many public-welfare suggestions.
Addressing a national summit on 'call to action against corruption' they observed that the enforcement of anticorruption rules and regulations is so weak in the country that the degree of graft in businesses is growing by the day.
Quoting a survey conducted on the impact of corruption on the small and medium enterprises, they said that, nowadays, people and business entrepreneurs do not dare to raise their voice against corruption as they feel that by paying bribe, they can reduce their business cost.
The speakers also suggested creation of an enabling environment which discourages corrupt practices in public and private sectors, and encourages the public to act against corruption.
Centre for Governance Studies organised the meet, addressed, among others, by US Ambassador in Dhaka Peter Haas, CPD executive director Dr Fahmida Khatun, former cabinet secretary Ali Alam Mazumder, Prof Dr Ali Reaz, former NBR chairman Abdul Mazid, Muhammad Saleh Jahur, Dr Manzur A Chowdhury and Zillur Rahman.
They also made a call for the government to ensure accountability within government agencies, and require them to inform the public about their accountability mechanisms and activities every six months.
In a major move they recommended that Independent Ombudsman be posted in all government offices to monitor and enforce laws and address "the culture of impunity" among perpetrators of corruption, with lawful measures, regardless of their social or political stature.
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