[ap-intact] COMMENTARY: “Control corruption – don't shoot the messenger”
[Facilitator’s note: Thank you to Iftekharuzzman, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh, for sharing his perspective on the corruption scenario in Bangladesh in 2014.]
“The year 2014 began with a high level political message to depart from the culture of impunity when a number of former Ministers reportedly alleged of corruption were showed the door out of the newly formed Cabinet. The Prime Minister also declared that those alleged of corruption including former Ministers and Members of the Parliament who by their own affidavit claimed to have accumulated enormous wealth disproportionate to legitimate source will have to face justice.
“The mandate of Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) was thus boosted by the political blessing from the top, though it was undermined by unabashed assertion by some near the top that it was only natural that being in power meant a licence to become rich. It was equally shocking to hear a pubic representative asking for “cash not crest” as gift for being declared elected. Talking of crests, while the government was embarrassed by the forgery with materials used in gifts to honour foreign friends of our liberation war, high-profile statement was also made to justify the same.”
Read the full op-ed by Iftekharuzzman, in The Daily Star. http://www.thedailystar.net/new-year-special-2015/control-corruption-dont-shoot-the-messenger-58000
“The year 2014 began with a high level political message to depart from the culture of impunity when a number of former Ministers reportedly alleged of corruption were showed the door out of the newly formed Cabinet. The Prime Minister also declared that those alleged of corruption including former Ministers and Members of the Parliament who by their own affidavit claimed to have accumulated enormous wealth disproportionate to legitimate source will have to face justice.
“The mandate of Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) was thus boosted by the political blessing from the top, though it was undermined by unabashed assertion by some near the top that it was only natural that being in power meant a licence to become rich. It was equally shocking to hear a pubic representative asking for “cash not crest” as gift for being declared elected. Talking of crests, while the government was embarrassed by the forgery with materials used in gifts to honour foreign friends of our liberation war, high-profile statement was also made to justify the same.”
Read the full op-ed by Iftekharuzzman, in The Daily Star. http://www.thedailystar.net/new-year-special-2015/control-corruption-dont-shoot-the-messenger-58000