Bangladesh COVID response / Bangladesh governance challenge / Thailand ex-tourism minister

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Stealing from the poor (Opinion).  “The government had set aside Tk 1,250 crore (approx. US$ 148 mil) to give Tk 2,500 each [US$30] to 50 lakh [5 million] hardest-hit victims. According to [Transparency International-Bangladesh's] latest survey report, 69 percent of the surveyed listed poor are yet to receive a single taka even after six months had elapsed. For those who received money, 56 percent were victims of irregularities and corruption.”

Mahfuz Anam/The Daily Star: https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/the-third-view/news/stealing-the-poor-1994053

 

Governance Challenges in Tackling Corona Virus (Part II) (Report).  Transparency International Bangladesh released a comprehensive review of governance challenges in the country’s response to COVID-19, from lack of disclosure of purchase information, irregularities and corruption in the health sector, to lack of medical waste management.

Note: Part I (from June 2020) can be found here: https://www.ti-bangladesh.org/beta3/images/2020/report/covid-19/Covid-Resp-Track-ES-Eng-15062020.pdf

Transparency International Bangladesh: https://www.ti-bangladesh.org/beta3/images/2020/report/covid-19/Covid_Res_Tracking2_ES_Eng.pdf

 

Former tourism chief gets 50 years in jail for bribery.  “Juthamas Siriwan, 73, was found guilty by the lower courts of up to 11 charges, including collusion, malfeasance, and bribery…[after] decades of court saga that saw involvement from the FBI and the U.S. Justice Department…[She] demanded 1.8 million U.S. dollars from an American film producer couple, Gerald and Patricia Green, in exchange for a contract to organize the annual Bangkok International Film Festival from 2002 to 2007.”

Khaosod English: https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/2020/11/16/former-tourism-chief-gets-50-years-in-jail-for-bribery/

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