Dr. Muhammad Mahtab Hossain Mazed :
Recently, economic corruption has become a major topic of discussion in the country. Especially after the details of the massive corruption of the former police chief Benazir Ahmed were leaked to media, the entire country was uproar.
ACC is currently conducting its corruption investigation. Along with this, the issue of US sanctions against former army chief General Aziz for corruption is also being discussed.
However, according to the sources Al-Jazeera, the accusations brought by the United States against Aziz through military influence, bribery, illegal contracting and saving his condemned brothers are objective and reliable.
In any case, the corruption of bureaucrats came under public criticism with the goat of NBR official Matiur Rahman, even though the corruption of bureaucrats is nothing new in this country. Recently, most of the Bangladeshis who have built luxurious residences abroad, including Canada, United States, and United Kingdom, came up in the media as bureaucrats.
Previously, when the massive corruption of the former land minister of Awami government, Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, was published in the media, a writ was filed in the High Court seeking its investigation. Earlier, PK Halder and Hallmark’s bank scams and large-scale money-laundering incidents sparked nationwide criticism. They are currently under trial.
In addition, Awami leaders of Dhaka city, Samrat, Enu, Rupon, GK Salim, Shamim Pradhan, who were accused and punished for the casino incident and money laundering, responded as corrupt during the Awami League government. About Tk 92,000 crore smuggled abroad every year and the former planning minister of Awami government, Shamsul Alam, recently gave this information in a seminar regarding the creation of dollar crisis, which is of deep concern.
Corruption is a serious problem for every society and country. The causes, types, and nature of corruption are different in different societies. Corruption can take many forms. Many people understand corruption only as illegal or unethical financial transactions but anything that goes against the principles or conflicts with the principles is corruption.
Giving undeserved or unethical benefits to a relative without taking the benefits himself, depriving a deserving person of his rightful benefits is also serious corruption. It is also a major form of corruption not to perform the duties assigned to oneself properly. Depriving someone of their right to justice is a chronic corruption.
This form of corruption is responsible for nurturing a culture of corruption and eroding society from within. Corruption has become an obstacle to achieve the desired success in every field of the country’s economy, politics, education, health and administration. In addition to the government’s responsibility to fight corruption, the people also have a responsibility.
It is an integrated process. Effective and concerted action by government and people is needed. Bangladesh is supporting the role of UN Convention against Corruption under the global framework to prevent and control corruption and has made great progress in asset recovery through mutual cooperation with other countries as per the guidelines of UN Anti-Corruption Charter.
The Anti-Corruption Commission has formed 541 anti-corruption committees across the country with honest, dignified and strong people of the society, who are playing a vocal role in preventing corruption in their areas. The most groundbreaking step of the Anti-Corruption Commission is the launch of a toll-free hotline number.
Anyone can report corruption by calling this number. Since the hotline 106 was introduced to report corruption related complaints to the commission, the general public has benefited. This initiative to immediately inform the Corruption Information Commission has received a huge response.
Corruption is hampering overall progress and development. It is not possible for the government or the anti-corruption commission alone to prevent it. Although it is possible to prevent corruption to some extent through creating values at all levels, raising awareness, preventing social degradation and moral education, it is necessary to build a massive social movement. Everyone has to work from their own position. By first declaring oneself corruption-free and then jumping into this social movement, benefits can be reaped on a large scale.
It is true that no country in the world is 100% free from corruption. But it is more common in our country. Due to increasing corruption, the rule of law is not possible in the country and the people are deprived of justice.
But the Prime Minister has started an anti-corruption drive to establish rule of law, justice, good governance – which is welcomed by the countrymen. Corruption not only disrupts the development of the state but is also a major obstacle to the establishment of justice and good governance. Otherwise, the desired development of the country is not possible. And it is only because of corruption that poverty has descended on us and the development of the country is being seriously hindered. Hence its immediate eradication is essential.
The issue is very important as it is the cause of corruption and some policies have been mentioned to prevent it. The more it is analyzed and discussed the more people will be aware of it and will be able to enjoy its benefits. So whoever is doing the irregularities and corruption should be questioned. Family education and practice of values are also very important to build a corruption free society. It is possible to build a corruption-free society only through the practice of ideals.
The author is a columnist and researcher; founder Chairman, Jatiya Rogi Kallyan Society.
