Build systemic barriers to corruption

Publish: 9:35 PM, May 18, 2019 | Update: 9:35 PM, May 18, 2019

Corruption or the depth of it or its pervasiveness has a long history in this land. If a body like the Transparency International (TI) existed in the eighties, specially during the rule of the autocratic government, then that body would also likely find Bangladesh as a heavily corruption afflicted country.

Thus, the realistic view ought to be that corruption in Bangladesh has not become unusually thicker in recent years. It is a systemic problem that the country has suffered from for a long time under different governments. No particular government needs to be accused or be under a periscope for spawning the most corruption. Each successive government ought to share the blame for corruption in proportion and each should be also criticized for not taking decisive steps against it.

Instead of mud slinging with the corruption issue, what should be important on the part of everyone concerned is to contribute to the clamour that the country needs institutional reforms or effective institutional mechanisms set up in various spheres as the best antidote against corruption. The Anti Corruption Commission lacks abilities in different ways to be able to strike at corruption successfully.

Government departments spawn the most corruption in Bangladesh and the parliamentary committees could play a very important role by putting into sharp focus such corruption and building up the pressure for tough measures against the same.

The creation of an ombudsman was suggested long ago to handle cases of corruption alleged by members of the public. But such an ombudsman has not been appointed.

Clearly, the outcry to strengthen institutional capacities against corruption needs to be louder from the press and civil society. They should pile up enough pressure on the political parties to go for the above reforms and more.
People are, no doubt, grateful for the current anti-corruption drive. The drive has led to the netting of somepowerful and influential corrupt persons who were once thought to be invincible and accountable to none. Thus, their going to jail, has created inspiration in the fight against corruption. The international image of the country is also improving as a result. Bangladesh can expect to improve its position in the world’s corruption rating index and the people of the country and its economy, will also likely benefit tangibly from the anti-corruption drive. But questions are also asked whether the struggle against corruption should mainly involve going after individuals or whether a better and longer term sustainable cure lies in creating systems that would automatically discourage corruption.

What the participants said in seminars and discussion meetings and remarks of expert advisers recently, all converge on the point that it would of the greatest value to build systemic barriers to corruption. They think that this would be a very sensible approach to fighting corruption successfully in the longer run. However , this view should not be interpreted to mean either that the present hard and unsparing drive against corrupt individuals should be relaxed.

The actions against individuals justifiably sensed to be corrupt within the government, outside the government, in businesses and political parties, are welcome . But this can only be the part of a process. This drive at the level of individuals cannot be a long term solution to fighting the scourge of corruption. The motivation to corruption, the very working of institutions that create the scope for engaging in corrupt activities, these will have to be practically treated at the source for corrupt instincts of individuals to be automatically frustrated and tamed.

For example, the government bureaucracy spawns a great deal of corruption. What would be the institutional checks to the same ? No doubt, individuals in the civil services are to be blamed for taking bribes and other immoralities. But had there been institutional barriers facing them while indulging in corruption, then surely they would feel restrained and considerations of their taking high risks would be a powerful demotivator keeping them away from corruption. Thus, institutional mechanisms need to be thought of and devised at every level of the government’s functioning so that corruption impulses can be naturally controlled. The same will require monitoring mechanisms to watch over civil servants, departmental procedures for swift and surgical actions against them as well as an accountability structure. But all of these things must be accomplished to set up an effective anticorruption system within the civil administration without creating more bureaucracy in trying to set up this system.

Besides, simplification of bureaucratic procedures themselves will lead to less corruption. For example, the present procedure of taking permission from too many desks gives rise to red tapism, delays and paying of bribes to push the files. Shortening bureaucracy in these matters can lead to curbs on corruption. Lack of computerization in land offices and others also create great opportunities for corruption. Therefore, computerization and other reforms in the government offices, will similarly add to the capacities of government run bodies to operate with much less corruption.

The country’s political parties in recent times have been responsible for the most corruption. The political parties are at the top for breeding institutional corruption. Therefore, the cure lies in deep cleansing the political parties for these to emerge as well reformed institutions to discharge their due role in the politics and administration of the country on going to power. The present government is expected to thoroughly preside over the reformation procedures of the political parties in areas such as taking donations, nomination of unclean candidates, non democratic environment within the parties that help the inefficient and morally depraved ones to rise to highest positions in the party hierarchies, etc.

The judiciary is another very vital institution of the state that must be absolutely prevented from getting weakened by corruption. Allegations have been made against the judiciary recently, both against the lower and higher judiciary, and these cases should be well investigated and acted upon quickly.

Supremely, it must be realized that corruption is essentially the product of ossified, inefficient and degenerate systems. The best antidote for corruption, therefore, can be no other than a systemic approach of reforming and revamping the systems to become healthier ones.