Corruption stifling economy, destroying social fabric-28/12/11

Corruption stifling economy, destroying social fabric


Syed Yamin Bakht

Endemic corruption is stifling the economy and destroying the moral and social fabric of the nation. Indeed, rampant corruption has caused the country's image to suffer.

The moral compass of society appears to be at a crossroads. Corruption is so widespread that it has become a more and more socially acceptable norm.

No one seems interested to question the source of money any more and the corrupt people have now become stalwarts of society, be it in politics, administration or business.

Giving bribes, which is also more euphemistically called speed money, is now a necessary evil for the hapless ordinary citizens having to meet almost any type of administrative obligations. And the so-called public servants appear to demand bribes as a routine, justifying it as a source to supplement their supposedly meagre government salaries. The business people, on the other hand, are mostly busy making money either by hook or by crook, apparently, devoid of any scruples, often in collusion with the corrupt politicians in power.

People have to pay bribes for even simple tasks like getting a child's birth certificate from the city corporation. According to a recent survey entitled "Daily Lives and Corruption: Public Opinion in South Asia", conducted by Transparency International, the country most plagued by bribery in the region is Bangladesh, where 66 per cent of the respondents reported paying bribes to officials in public institutions, mostly just to gain access to services which they are entitled to.

It is argued that because of their poor salary level, the government officials are mostly involved in need-based rather than greed-based corruption. There may be some truth in it, but one wonders where it ends and where it begins. The flow of easy money inevitably turns need into greed.

Although there are some exceptions, politicians in power generally seem to take their respective positions as a great earning opportunity. It is argued that they have to recoup the huge expenses they had to make in order to get elected in parliament and to generate additional funds for the next election.

It is a vicious cycle where corruption breeds even more corruption. It has now pervaded almost every aspect of society. From greedy grooms seeking dowries to unscrupulous businessmen and traders adulterating all types of food items -- it is all pervasive.

And corruption is also inextricably linked with crime as one abates the other. Corruption is thus eating into the vitals of society, blurring the difference between right and wrong or good and bad.

It may be recalled that Bangladesh was earlier placed at the very bottom of the list of most corrupt countries in the world for five successive years from 2001-2005. The latest global corruption perception index released by Transparency International recently, places Bangladesh at the 13th position from the bottom. In a scale of 0-10, Bangladesh scored 2.7. Although there have been some minor improvements in recent years, the country remains in the lowest category (below the score of 3.0) where corruption is still perceived to be of "grave concern".

The economic cost of corruption is enormous, estimated to be around 3.0 per cent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) annually. According to a survey conducted by the finance ministry, the total amount of undeclared wealth in the country is estimated to be between 43-80 per cent of the GDP. Imagine the impact it would have on the country's economy if such a huge amount of money was invested in more productive sectors.

"To eliminate poverty, corruption must be rooted out," the prime minister thus rightly pointed out in a recent text message sent to all mobile phone subscribers on the occasion of the observance of the International Anti-Corruption Day on December 9.

However, very little is being done to combat corruption effectively. The present government is sending mixed signals regarding its commitment to fight corruption. The ruling alliance along with other major political parties, all had made strong commitments for fighting corruption in their respective election manifestos prior to the polls in 2008.

The government deserves credit for bringing about some legal and institutional reforms, which over time can ensure greater accountability and transparency and will thus help curb corruption. These include the enactment of the Right to Information Act, Whistleblower Protection Act, adoption of the implementation plan of the UN Convention against Corruption, and setting up of the Information Commission and the Human Rights Commission.

On the other hand, the government has also taken some regressive measures relating to curbing corruption. The status of the Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) remains in limbo. The cabinet had earlier approved a set of 10 amendment proposals to the existing ACC Act, criticised by the civil society as it would severely curtail the independence and effectiveness of the Commission. The ACC chairman had also expressed strong reservations about at least six of the proposed amendments. In the face of such strong criticisms, the government has refrained from enacting the proposed amendments so far.

Moreover, contrary to its election pledges, the government has continued to provide legal cover to whiten black money, which would encourage corruption. The government's handling of the recent World Bank corruption allegations on awarding of contracts for the Padma Bridge, also raises questions about its seriousness to combat corruption.

We earnestly hope that the prime minister would act more boldly and effectively towards implementing her oft-repeated commitment to combat corruption in the country. Action speaks much louder than words!

yaminbakht58@gmail.com