Army chief spells out 7-point recommendation to fight graft
Thursday, 12 July 2007
Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed Wednesday spelt out a 7-point recommendation that envisaged the appointment of a parliamentary ombudsman and pay-hike for police to fight out corruption in the country, report agencies.
He also expressed the hope that the "interim government" would introduce a Right to Information Act so corrupt officials cannot hide behind the cloak of secrecy and escape punishment.
General Moeen made the remarks at a workshop on Curbing Corruption in South Asia organised by Global Organisation of Parliamentarians against Corruption (GOPAC) supported by the US-based National Democratic Institute (NDI) at Hotel Radisson in the city.
Speaker Jamiruddin Sircar inaugurated the two-day workshop presided over by Naser Al Sane, MP, Vice Chair of GOPAC.
The army chief's other recommendations include creating a moral high ground against corruption, ensuring exemplary punishment of all those found guilty of corruption, establishing an independent and neutral judicial system, boycotting the corrupt socially and carrying out the drive against corruption and corrupt people on a regular basis.
Citing varied scales of corruption and fight against it in South Asian countries, General Moeen said the problem of corruption in Bangladesh has been disturbing and deep rooted and that it effectively hindered development in all sectors.
Quoting Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) reports, he said corruption persisted in the law enforcing agencies, local government, health, education, taxation authorities, financial institutions, forest department, utility services and transport sector.
The General said, "The ongoing corruption drive seems to have confirmed our worst fears and borne out the findings of the TIB surveys.
He criticised the BNP-Jamaat government and said had the government taken measures against corruption in the education sector, corruption by now would have been remarkably low.
"There are some ghost schools and ghost teachers. I am sure the government knew about it, but no actions were taken."
"The present government is looking into it in detail to make people accountable. At the moment, one of the tasks I've given our forces is that 'please go and look after the education system'," he said.
He, however, said similar problems also existed in other South Asian countries and in almost all cases the problem had been tackled through reforms and instruments of law.
The army chief said Bangladesh following in the footsteps of other South Asian countries had now embarked on its crusade against corruption.
"Through resolute and determined leadership the nation will lift itself out of the morass left by the politicians," he told the seminar.
General Moeen said people in Bangladesh were in the formative stages of creating an intricate legal network to suppress corruption in all sectors of society and the "Pakistan's experience will be a useful tool for us."
In India, he said the press and media appeared to be the main weapons against corruption although there did exist a very efficient and effective legal framework to combat the problem.
General Moeen said both India and Pakistan had shown what could be done if there was determination and foresight, and he believed Bangladesh was not lacking in either quality.
"We are educated, conscientious and progressive people and able to overcome the difficulties now being faced in the country but with forethought and vision," he said.
The General mentioned the Central Vigilance Commission in India where ordinary citizens may lodge complaints against corrupt practices, and promulgation of an Ordinance to protect government employees from retribution if they disclose corruption within their respective departments.
Pointing to the corruption scenario in the region, the army chief said the states of South Asia whether they were the strongest democracies or the aspiring one were plagued by corruption in their public and private sectors.
"The phenomenon has become an enduring pattern of public life in these countries posing a threat to meaningful democracy and sustainable development.
He regretted that even democratisation of these countries for a considerable period of time could not change the culture of corruption. Rather, political corruption increased and destroyed the trust between the leaders and the people.
The General said while foreign donors had played a significant role in development strategies of regional countries, the fight against corruption had generated controversies as well.
He said, "The underlying point is that foreign aid or investment has political and strategic considerations attached to them rather than having the economic needs and policy reforms of the recipients as priority issues." In some cases, he said, about 40 per cent of these aids are spent on their consultants or experts.
The army chief said despite formulation of strategies to ensure control over corrupt practices, a high level of corruption existed in these countries.
He said the corruption cases reported in each of these countries had ranged from financial scandals involving political figures to cricketers showing international connectivity involving ministers, opposition leaders, the chief of customs, military elite and bureaucrats.
General Moeen said major areas of corruption had been in major defence deals, development projects, election funding, politically-sponsored criminality, abuse of power, electoral malpractice, drug dealing, money laundering and human trafficking that involved transaction of billions of dollars.
During the question-answer session, the General said the army was not ruling the country. "Let me reassure that army is not ruling the country…Some people smell a rat in everything," he told a questioner.
To another question, he said the voters would have to be educated so that they did not elect the same corrupt people. It must be ensured that political parties could not buy votes and voters did not sell their votes.
He said a voter might have a good meal for one day but he would have to starve for five years if they elect corrupt people.
He also expressed the hope that the "interim government" would introduce a Right to Information Act so corrupt officials cannot hide behind the cloak of secrecy and escape punishment.
General Moeen made the remarks at a workshop on Curbing Corruption in South Asia organised by Global Organisation of Parliamentarians against Corruption (GOPAC) supported by the US-based National Democratic Institute (NDI) at Hotel Radisson in the city.
Speaker Jamiruddin Sircar inaugurated the two-day workshop presided over by Naser Al Sane, MP, Vice Chair of GOPAC.
The army chief's other recommendations include creating a moral high ground against corruption, ensuring exemplary punishment of all those found guilty of corruption, establishing an independent and neutral judicial system, boycotting the corrupt socially and carrying out the drive against corruption and corrupt people on a regular basis.
Citing varied scales of corruption and fight against it in South Asian countries, General Moeen said the problem of corruption in Bangladesh has been disturbing and deep rooted and that it effectively hindered development in all sectors.
Quoting Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) reports, he said corruption persisted in the law enforcing agencies, local government, health, education, taxation authorities, financial institutions, forest department, utility services and transport sector.
The General said, "The ongoing corruption drive seems to have confirmed our worst fears and borne out the findings of the TIB surveys.
He criticised the BNP-Jamaat government and said had the government taken measures against corruption in the education sector, corruption by now would have been remarkably low.
"There are some ghost schools and ghost teachers. I am sure the government knew about it, but no actions were taken."
"The present government is looking into it in detail to make people accountable. At the moment, one of the tasks I've given our forces is that 'please go and look after the education system'," he said.
He, however, said similar problems also existed in other South Asian countries and in almost all cases the problem had been tackled through reforms and instruments of law.
The army chief said Bangladesh following in the footsteps of other South Asian countries had now embarked on its crusade against corruption.
"Through resolute and determined leadership the nation will lift itself out of the morass left by the politicians," he told the seminar.
General Moeen said people in Bangladesh were in the formative stages of creating an intricate legal network to suppress corruption in all sectors of society and the "Pakistan's experience will be a useful tool for us."
In India, he said the press and media appeared to be the main weapons against corruption although there did exist a very efficient and effective legal framework to combat the problem.
General Moeen said both India and Pakistan had shown what could be done if there was determination and foresight, and he believed Bangladesh was not lacking in either quality.
"We are educated, conscientious and progressive people and able to overcome the difficulties now being faced in the country but with forethought and vision," he said.
The General mentioned the Central Vigilance Commission in India where ordinary citizens may lodge complaints against corrupt practices, and promulgation of an Ordinance to protect government employees from retribution if they disclose corruption within their respective departments.
Pointing to the corruption scenario in the region, the army chief said the states of South Asia whether they were the strongest democracies or the aspiring one were plagued by corruption in their public and private sectors.
"The phenomenon has become an enduring pattern of public life in these countries posing a threat to meaningful democracy and sustainable development.
He regretted that even democratisation of these countries for a considerable period of time could not change the culture of corruption. Rather, political corruption increased and destroyed the trust between the leaders and the people.
The General said while foreign donors had played a significant role in development strategies of regional countries, the fight against corruption had generated controversies as well.
He said, "The underlying point is that foreign aid or investment has political and strategic considerations attached to them rather than having the economic needs and policy reforms of the recipients as priority issues." In some cases, he said, about 40 per cent of these aids are spent on their consultants or experts.
The army chief said despite formulation of strategies to ensure control over corrupt practices, a high level of corruption existed in these countries.
He said the corruption cases reported in each of these countries had ranged from financial scandals involving political figures to cricketers showing international connectivity involving ministers, opposition leaders, the chief of customs, military elite and bureaucrats.
General Moeen said major areas of corruption had been in major defence deals, development projects, election funding, politically-sponsored criminality, abuse of power, electoral malpractice, drug dealing, money laundering and human trafficking that involved transaction of billions of dollars.
During the question-answer session, the General said the army was not ruling the country. "Let me reassure that army is not ruling the country…Some people smell a rat in everything," he told a questioner.
To another question, he said the voters would have to be educated so that they did not elect the same corrupt people. It must be ensured that political parties could not buy votes and voters did not sell their votes.
He said a voter might have a good meal for one day but he would have to starve for five years if they elect corrupt people.