TIB says interim administration failed to take stand against corruption

Transparency International Bangladesh chief Iftekharuzzaman has said the interim government failed to take a stand against corruption.

Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of the local chapter of Berlin-based Transparency International, a global anti-corruption organisation, presented topics that the organisation believe should be accommodated in political parties’ manifestos ahead of the next parliamentary election.

Speaking at a media briefing on Sunday, he said: “TIB does not have data on whether corruption in the country has increased or decreased after Aug 5. We are working on comparative information. However, corruption has continued. We have seen examples of it since the afternoon of August 5.”

“TIB cannot say corruption has reduced in the country after Aug 5,” said Iftekharuzzaman.

A section is engaged in corruption through factionalism, land grabbing and extortion, he said. The quarter is abusing political power and governance space to serve its own interest.

Iftekharuzzaman added that there was no denying the fact that the interim government had missed the opportunity to take a strong stand against corruption.

He called on political parties to form an independent bank commission.

The TIB presented 52 recommendations at the press conference. It recommended freeing the bank and financial sector from factional and family control by removing individuals with political and business interests from the boards and management of all commercial banks and Bangladesh Bank.

It also demanded that perpetrators of past fraud, irregularities and corruption be brought to book.

Iftekharuzzaman said the legal framework alone was not enough to ensure transparency and accountability in the sector.

He said the majority of businessmen have suffered losses over the last 15 years.

He pointed out that the government failed to implement the reform commission proposal to incorporate corruption in the business sector in the ACC schedule.