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National Integrity Strategy

Include security forces

TIB asks govt to ensure transparency, accountability at all levels

Staff Correspondent
The Transparency International Bangladesh yesterday suggested that the government include the law enforcement agencies and armed forces in the National Integrity Strategy that is meant to ensure transparency and accountability in all spheres of governance.
It also recommended bringing under the strategy all religious and cultural organisations, the National Board of Revenue, the Information Commission and the National Human Rights Commission, as they can play a critical role in establishing a just society.
The Bangladesh chapter of the
Berlin-based global graft watchdog made the observations in a study on the progress of implementation of the integrity strategy formulated in mid-2012.
In its assessment, the TIB considered 10 state institutions. They are Executive and Public Administration, Jatiya Sangsad, Judiciary, Election Commission, Attorney General's Office, Public Service Commission, Comptroller and Auditor General's Office, Ombudsman, Anti-Corruption Commission and Local Government.
Among the non-state institutions, it assessed political parties, private sector industries and commercial ventures, NGOs and civil society, family, educa-
tional institutions and the mass media.
“In one year's plan of action, the government has made notable progress, but there is a lot left to be done,” said TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman at a press conference at Hotel Abakash in the capital.
"There has been an action plan for only the public administration, but there is no discussion on the challenges facing the police and the armed forces," he said.
The integrity strategy’s basic components - transparency, accountability, sensibility, participation and justice - have not been included in the
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plan of actions of all the institutions, said the study jointly presented by Shammi Laila Islam and Shadhan Kumar Das, both programme managers (research andpolicy) ofTIB.
On parliament session, Iftekharuzzaman said the opposition was absent in the ninth parliament most of the time, while its role in the current House is not visible.
“Now, there is no parliament boycott, but the opposition is not in a comfortable situation. It is not playing its role for a lack of confidence," he added.
Of the 50 parliamentary standing committees, 23 have not held any meetingyet. There is also doubt if these committees were formed in consultation with the opposition parties, the
study said.
It also said democratic practices within the parties were very poor and that money influenced the nomination process of the candidates. And full transparency and accountability have not been established in managing the party funds.
"There is a lack of initiative on part of the political parties or the Election Commission [in this regard],“ said Shammi, presentingthe findings.
Also, no policy has been framed to make the Supreme Judicial Council more effective.
On private sector and commercial institutions, she said there were very few instances that the government tookaction againstruleviolators.
"The culture of corporate governance has yet to be established.”
On NGOs and civil society, Shammi said there was no mechanism for ensuring their transparency and accountability.
Regarding the Anti-Corruption Commission, the study said it had no formal alliance with the civil society and other partners in preventing corruption. The ACC also has weakness in inter-departmental coordination.
Asked how religious organisations like Hefajat-e Islam and madrasas could be included in the integrity strategy, Iftekharuzzaman said if they had legal basis to operate, there should not be any reason to leave them out.
TIB Deputy Executive Director Sumaia Khair and Trustee Board MemberM Hafizuddin Khan were also