The National Parliament can play the most effective role in preventing corruption. But as the previous government turned the parliament into a puppet theater, the Parliament could not play any role in preventing corruption.
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman made the remarks in a shadow parliament organised by Debate for Democracy in the city’s FDC on Saturday, read a press release.
He continued, “Authoritarian regimes have led to widespread corruption in the past. Corruption was institutionalised. No crime occurred where the law enforcement agencies were not involved. Intelligence agencies have been used for corruption.
“Those who were supposed to be the guardians of the law were cast into the role of devourers. The Anti-Corruption Commission has proved to be a failure due to the institution’s weak leadership and political influence.”
Dr Iftekharuzzaman continued, “The Anti-corruption commission needs to be reformed to prevent corruption. Also the National Board of Revenue, CID, Attorney General's Office and Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit should be properly reformed as well.
“The allegations of corruption against the former prime minister and his family members in connection with the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) deal cannot be denied. The state can take into consideration the complaints and take appropriate action.”
He then pointed out, “The amount of money that has been laundered abroad from Bangladesh can be brought back utilising the country’s existing and international conventions. In this case, the Bangladesh government has to make legal agreements with other governments.”
Presiding over the event, Debate for Democracy Chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiran said, “Totalitarian corruption is a big black spot in the history of Bangladesh. Poverty at all levels has become cancerous.
“The interim government has started the process of removing this cancer of corruption.”
He continued, “We had seen the ACC imposing travel bans on fugitives after they had fled the country. The ACC has been seen filing cases, jailing, and imposing fines on people of opposing views as part of political harassment, without bringing the real miscreants under the law.
“Those who are being harassed in false cases of ACC should be freed.”
Kiran added, “We all know how the previous government destroyed all the institutional structures of the country by holding elections without voting. The judicial system has been destroyed from the lower courts to the higher courts.
“Constitutional institutions, including law enforcement and administration have been used for political purposes. Disappearances, murders created fear among people by creating mirror houses.”
He pointed out, “All these things were done based on multidimensional corruption. The previous government during its fall left the people of the country with a foreign debt burden of more than $100 billion.
“The current outstanding debt of the country is about 6 lakh crore rupees.”
Kiran said, “In the name of a mega project, there has been a mega disaster. The previous government was involved in corruption throughout all sectors – including health, education, banking-insurance, water, electricity, fuel, transport, communication, agriculture.
“Everyone knows how people became penniless through stock market manipulation.”
Kiran continued, “The corruption in the power sector in the name of quick rental is a small fragment of the biggest corruption in the history of Bangladesh. During the previous government, it was said that electricity would be provided to everyone.
“Where did so much electricity go? Rural areas still go without electricity for an average of 6/7 hours every day. We now have a situation where even if the lamp is not turned on, the meter turns.”
If income inequality in the country is not eliminated, this successful revolution of the students will not be sustainable, Kiran pointed out.
The debaters of State University of Bangladesh won by defeating the Bangladesh University of Business and Technology team in the proposal titled “Individual Awareness, instead of Institutional Surveillance, Can Prevent Corruption,” organised by Debate for Democracy.
Prof Tajul Islam Chowdhury Tuhin, Dr SM Morshed, and journalists Mohi Uddin, Roksana Amin and Atika Rahman served as judges at the competition. At the end of the event, trophies, crests and certificates were awarded to the champion team.
