1. Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has been observing International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD) since 2004, but there is still little notable progress in controlling corruption in Bangladesh.
2. Corruption causes significant harm to the country's economy and erodes trust in government and politics.
3. The government needs to recognize that restricting fundamental rights, including freedom of speech, protects the corrupt and hinders efforts towards accountable governance.
The article discusses the issue of corruption in Bangladesh and the need for concrete action to control it. The author, Dr Iftekharuzzaman, is the Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), an organization that has been advocating against corruption in the country since 2004.
The article highlights the fact that corruption remains a significant problem in Bangladesh, with more than two-thirds of respondents in a recent TIB survey reporting being victims of corruption while receiving various services. The law enforcement agencies were identified as one of the most corrupt sectors, which is particularly concerning as they are mandated to control violations of law.
The author notes that corruption has significant negative impacts on society, including eroding trust in government and politics, distorting competitive business and investment environments, and causing a plunder of resources by a few individuals. The article also highlights how corruption is a multi-trillion-dollar global scandal involving illicit transfers of corrupt money.
While the article acknowledges some legal, institutional, and policy reforms that have taken place over the last decade to strengthen the state's ability to control corruption, it argues that much more needs to be done. The author notes that pledges made by the government have not been delivered, institutions are rendered dysfunctional by partisan influence, and there is blatant impunity for those who engage in corrupt practices.
One potential bias in this article is its focus on TIB's advocacy work against corruption. While TIB has been instrumental in raising awareness about corruption issues in Bangladesh, other organizations or stakeholders may have different perspectives or approaches to addressing this problem.
Overall, this article provides valuable insights into the ongoing challenges related to controlling corruption in Bangladesh. However, readers should be aware of potential biases and consider other sources when forming their opinions on this issue.