Staff Reporter :
The Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has demanded exemplary punishment for government officials involved in corruption, stating that mere transfer, dismissal, or retirement is insufficient to address the issue.
According to TIB, the recent administrative actions taken against controversial government servants in high positions, such as officials from the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and the police, are promising.
However, the organization believes that such measures are not enough to curb the culture of corruption.
TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said in a statement on Monday, “It has become normalized to limit disciplinary actions such as transfer, dismissal, or compulsory retirement for government employees accused of corruption.”
He highlighted the shortcomings of current measures in effectively ensuring accountability and deterring corruption among public servants.
He emphasized that limiting punishment for corruption to measures like transfers, dismissals, or retirements falls short of adequately addressing the issue.
The official explained that crimes like corruption can spread to other officials and beyond if punishment is limited to transfers alone.
He stressed that the widespread acceptance of the idea that public servants do not have to face the law for corruption can further encourage the practice.
Iftekharuzzaman pointed out that amendments to the Government Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules over time have effectively provided a protective shield for public servants involved in corruption.
He argued that this is a blatant violation of Article 27 of the Constitution, which states that all citizens are equal before the law.
Iftekharuzzaman also emphasized that limiting punishment for public servants accused of corruption to measures like transfer, dismissal, or retirement is an indication of discrimination against people of different professions and classes.
He stressed that this practice violates the principle of equality before the law, as enshrined in the Constitution.
“Such measure also works as the pre-dominant factor for the spread of corruption across various areas within the government sectors through collusion,” he said.
