The drive against corruption
Friday, 22 January 2010
BANGLADESH, like other countries, observed the World Anti-corruption Day last month with all the enthusiasm and fanfare. The emergency caretaker government's anti-corruption drive lost credibility due to its excesses. The reckless actions of the caretaker administration, using draconian emergency powers, disillusioned the people. The lesson underlines the need to avoid such careless action for any anti-corruption drive to yield the desired result.
But this does not mean that the people oppose anti-corruption drive that can free the society or governance from corruption. Only an efficient and institutionalised drive without arbitrariness can give the results. The two-year emergency caretaker administration lost credibility due its arbitrary action although it assumed power in the backdrop of the country getting the dubious distinction of being 'the most corrupt' for five times in succession.
Corruption rating of Bangladesh has improved somewhat this year. In its latest evaluation, the Transparency International ranked Bangladesh the 13th most corrupt country.
But the rating could be unsustainable unless the drive against corruption is institutionalised. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the key instrument for fighting the malaise, needs to be strengthened. The government has to bear in mind that the people did not like the excesses committed by the caretaker administration in the name of fighting corruption. They very much want the crusade against corruption but without any arbitrary or extra-legal action. The initial public support for the caretaker's drive evaporated because of its selective discrimination targeting some individuals and letting others off the hook. The caretakers lost credibility by creating an impression that it was using the drive to break up political parties for a hidden political agenda of its own.
The people very much expect the AL-led government to learn from the mistakes of the caretakers to make the drive effective and credible. There should be no inefficiency and discriminatory treatment. The reported move to clip the powers of the ACC cannot be desirable. The ACC would be a lame duck if it has to seek prior approval of the government for starting cases against its bigwigs. The government needs to rethink the matter of disempowering the ACC.
Rather, the government should be supportive of ACC's capacity building. As it turned out, the hidden political agenda, the caretakers took, proved more than it could chew. No denying, insufficiency and inefficiency of investigators also took out the teeth of the drive. The ACC needs to be revitalised to be effective.
Whether or not the government wants a credible drive against corruption would be put to test in the coming months. The government needs to redeem its pre-election pledge to bolster the drive against corruption. But politically motivated drive, which allows selective discrimination, would have no credibility.
Imran S Ahmed
Pallabi, Dhaka
But this does not mean that the people oppose anti-corruption drive that can free the society or governance from corruption. Only an efficient and institutionalised drive without arbitrariness can give the results. The two-year emergency caretaker administration lost credibility due its arbitrary action although it assumed power in the backdrop of the country getting the dubious distinction of being 'the most corrupt' for five times in succession.
Corruption rating of Bangladesh has improved somewhat this year. In its latest evaluation, the Transparency International ranked Bangladesh the 13th most corrupt country.
But the rating could be unsustainable unless the drive against corruption is institutionalised. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the key instrument for fighting the malaise, needs to be strengthened. The government has to bear in mind that the people did not like the excesses committed by the caretaker administration in the name of fighting corruption. They very much want the crusade against corruption but without any arbitrary or extra-legal action. The initial public support for the caretaker's drive evaporated because of its selective discrimination targeting some individuals and letting others off the hook. The caretakers lost credibility by creating an impression that it was using the drive to break up political parties for a hidden political agenda of its own.
The people very much expect the AL-led government to learn from the mistakes of the caretakers to make the drive effective and credible. There should be no inefficiency and discriminatory treatment. The reported move to clip the powers of the ACC cannot be desirable. The ACC would be a lame duck if it has to seek prior approval of the government for starting cases against its bigwigs. The government needs to rethink the matter of disempowering the ACC.
Rather, the government should be supportive of ACC's capacity building. As it turned out, the hidden political agenda, the caretakers took, proved more than it could chew. No denying, insufficiency and inefficiency of investigators also took out the teeth of the drive. The ACC needs to be revitalised to be effective.
Whether or not the government wants a credible drive against corruption would be put to test in the coming months. The government needs to redeem its pre-election pledge to bolster the drive against corruption. But politically motivated drive, which allows selective discrimination, would have no credibility.
Imran S Ahmed
Pallabi, Dhaka