Eradication of Corruption

    Eradication of Corruptioncorruption. Civil servants by and large value secrecy
     Eradication of corruption should be theand are totally unwilling to share information about
nation’s number-one priority in view of thedecisions with citizens. Openness and transparency
ever-increasing horizon of political and administrativeare alien concepts in public bureaucracy in Bangladesh
corruption and its baneful multifarious effects on the(Khan, 1997). A number of actions have been
society-at-large. It needs to be understood by all thatrecommended to ensure transparency and thereby
eradication of corruption is only possible if strongconsiderably empower citizens and consequently
political commitment exists. Without strong politicalcontain corruption (World Bank, 1996a:xii). First, the
commitment, bureaucratic reorientation and a vibrantOfficial Secrets Act of 1923 and Government Service
and effective civil society, checking corruption turns intoConduct Rules of 1979 should be suitably modified.
a very difficult almost impossible task. In the context ofSecond, a task-force on public-sector transparency
Bangladesh only radical and fundamental policyshould be estabilished with membership from different
measures initiated and strongly backed by aprofessional and occupational groups to suggest
committed political leadership and supported andmeasures to enhance transparency. Third, necessary
implemented by a reoriented bureaucracy andsteps should be taken to make all contract evaluation
watched and monitored by an organized and vocalreports public, thereby enabling all bidders to see how
civil society can control corruption.evaluations are made. Still other steps should be taken
     Given the presence of three crucial variables -to ensure transparency and reduce corruption (Khan,
committed political leadership, reoriented bureaucracy1997). Fourth, earning and tax payments of all public
and an organized and vocal civil society - other policyofficials - elected as well as appointed - should be
measures need to be adopted to effectively containpublished each year to enable the people to learn
as well as control corruption. What is proposed belowabout the assets of public officials. Fifth, interested
are a number of long-term and short-term policycitizens must be allowed access to relevant files and
measures placed in wider socio-political and economicdocuments. For this to happen the number of files
contexts to control corruption.marked secret and top secret should be drastically
     The public sector employs over a millionreduced. Sixth, civil servants long accustomed to
people in 35 ministries, 50 divisions, 221 departments,transact public business under the veil of secrecy
139 directorates and autonomous bodies and 153 stateshould be appropriately trained and indoctrinated to
enterprises (World Bank 1996b:57). It may also bebring about necessary changes in their attitudes and
added that since independence the number ofwork habits.
ministries, departments and public servants has     A number of specific policy measures have
doubled (Khan, 1997). In the context of present realitybeen recommended to control corruption in politics and
there is little rationale for maintaining a hugeadministration (World Bank, 1996a:xii; Rahman, et
public-sector edifice which contributes to corruption inal.,1993:97 and Khan, 1997). First, a high-powered task
public dealings. There is now justification for right-sizingforce to be established consisting of public officials,
the government. Right-sizing of government will, amongparliamentarians and leading citizens to review all
other things, will discourage creation and maintenancerelevant issues pertaining to corruption and to suggest
of redundant agencies and units and restrain doling outa comprehensive eradication programme. Second, an
of public-service jobs as political favours.autonomous standing committee to be formed with
     Public-sector accountability is weak, fuzzy andjudges, senior public officials and leading citizens to
tenuous at best. This has resulted in the inability tooversee the activities of the Bureau of Anti-Corruption
enforce financial contracts, stop theft in public(BAC) as well as authorize investigation in ministries,
enterprises and hold officials accountable for impropercorporations and other agencies by a statutory
or delayed judgment (World Bank, 1996a:viii). A numberappointed and protected public prosecutor. Third, salary
of actions need to taken simultaneously toand benefits of civil servants need to be at par with
institutionalize and strengthen accountability totheir counterparts in the private sector. Fourth, provision
effectively counter corruption. First, a bi-partisanof severe punishment including long stays in jails and
parliamentary task force be established to bolster theconfisation of assets and properties to be instituted for
standing committees, instituting the practice ofcivil servants involved in corruption. Other measures
questioning ministers and providing members ofhave also been suggested to counter political and
parliament with adequate office and research facilitiesadministrative corruption (Paul, 1997:288-304). Fifth, a
and setting up of an office of Ombudsman (Worldcode of conduct should be adopted by the parliament
Bank, 1996a:viii). A parliamentary secretariat should beto provide guidelines for the conduct of elected
established outside the sphere of civil service andrepresentatives and to take appropriate steps when
manned by competent personnel recruited separatelydepartures from accepted norms are detected. Sixth,
and controlled by the speaker of the parliament (Khan,elected representatives must be compensated suitably
1997). Second, the office of the Comptroller andto enable them to devote their attention only to public
Auditor General (CAG) must be reorganized andwelfare and service. Seventh, enactment of a law to
strengthened by enhancing the capacity of the CAGregulate the functioning of political parties is needed.
(World Bank, 1996a:ix). Third, the standards ofThis law would require political parties to hold regular
performance of ministries/divisions and their attachedorganizational elections at different levels; maintain
agencies should be made known to the citizensprompt and systematic accounts and submit audited
(Rahman, et al., 1993:52). Fourth, complaint proceduresaccounts to either the Election Commission or the
should be in place in government agencies for widerComptroller and Auditor General; and comply with
use of citizens (Khan, 1997). Fifth, monitoringincome tax regulations and guidelines. Eighth, election
procedures need to be tightened so that theexpenditure needs to be reduced and closely
concerned civil servant knows the extent ofmonitored by a designated body. Ninth, deregulation
compliance by his subordinates to relevant orders andand debureaucratisation, bounded discretion in decision
directives as well as services provided to citizens.making, realignment of the government’s audit and
Sixth, units be established in each ministry and divisionintelligence are to be encouraged to control corruption.
to develop and apply performance criteria andTenth, existence of free media so that they can
measures and to develop internal performance auditinvestigate and expose corrupt practices. Eleventh,
(UNDP, 1993:106).voluntary agencies and religious groups as well as
     Transparency in public-sector decision makingother components of civil society can play significant
is totally absent. This absence, in turn, contributes torole in constraining corruption in public delaine.