Career Development Centre (CDC) > Bangladesh Civil Service-BCS

Corruption – Towards kleptocratic state capture

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Md. Fouad Hossain Sarker:
In terms of implications measured by the amount of bribe, the situation has worsened. In 201, cost of bribery in the surveyed sectors was estimated at 1.4% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or 8.7% of annual national budget, which has risen now to 2.4% of GDP and 13.4% of annual budget. The survey also shows that while corruption affects everyone, the poorer sections of the society suffer more. Cost of petty corruption was estimated to be 4.8% of average annual household expenditure. More importantly, for households with lowest range of expenditures the rate of loss is much higher at 5.5% compared to higher spending households for whom it is 1.3%. In other words, the burden of corruption is more on the poor. That corruption adversely affects development prospect has been a commonplace wisdom. It is also well-known that corruption undermines democracy and deprives people of fundamental human rights. Pervasive corruption erodes trust in leadership and democratic institutions. Corruption has continued to make access of the poor and disadvantaged to the whole range of basic services and entitlements like education, health, and nutrition and safety-net conditional upon their capacity to make unauthorized payments. For public sector employment seekers bribery and/or partisan political linkage have become more important credential than merit, experience and expertise, which has caused deep frustration and despair in the society. Especially for the job-seeking young generation bribery has become the key challenge.

Md. Fouad Hossain Sarker:
On the other hand the Rana Plaza tragedy of April 24, 2013 showed us graphically that corruption also kills innocent, honest, diligent and hardworking women and men striving to eke out a living. That corruption is the key factor behind deaths of more than 1200 lives was clear enough. The building was allegedly constructed in an illegally occupied piece of land in collusion with the powerful from both sides of the political spectrum, supported by commission or omission by officials in the municipality, Rajuk and other authorities whose responsibility it was to ensure compliance to laws, regulations and codes. There were gross violations all around by abusing power or by illegal transactions. That corruption kills people has also been blatantly manifested by numerous deaths that have occurred in internecine violence and fights between factions and sub-factions even within the ruling party at local levels for capturing public tender and contracting and grabbing of land, water bodies and market places, in many cases with blatant impunity.  According to one report, in Bogra alone at least 30 people lost their lives in such violence.

Md. Fouad Hossain Sarker:
Political affiliation has been reaffirmed with greater vengeance as the only viable credential for securing permits to set up business enterprises in such sectors as banking, insurance and media houses. That the power of corrupt money can guarantee impunity in the face of blatant violation of laws, regulations and codes thanks to a pernicious collusion of politics with business, administration and law enforcement, is clear enough.

Md. Fouad Hossain Sarker:
We have been deeply concerned time and again that the ratio of MPs with business as primary occupation has reached nearly 60 percent from about 18 percent at independence which has rendered politics difficult for true politicians. By the end of the year we have also seen, thanks to the disclosure of assets of candidates for parliament election, even more disappointing and indeed extremely disconcerting picture of how power is abused to amass wealth disproportionate to known source of income.

Md. Fouad Hossain Sarker:
Allegedly, aggrieved by the disclosure, a section of 'political leaders' rushed to the Election Commission to coax it to thwart the prospect of such public scrutiny of the politically exposed persons (PEP) entrusted with prominent public function. If not deterred by public outcry, the Commission was also reportedly going to explore the possibility of complying with this illegitimate and illegal demand which could also constitute contempt of court. Powerful ministers defended adamantly that there was nothing wrong in amassing wealth from positions of power, reflecting the denial syndrome that has determined government policy stance vis-à-vis corruption throughout the year. They did so with regard to alleged conspiracy to corruption in the Padma bridge project that gave the World Bank the opportunity to 'chop off the head for headache' and withdraw its lending for the project. The same denial syndrome damaged the prospect of any firm and effective action against those responsible for share market collapse and scams in Sonali Bank, Basic Bank and other publicly owned banks. Nothing happened with respect to the scandalous recruitment business in railways nor did the government show any firmness to act in view of allegations of irregularities in such big procurements as DEMU train even though the Planning Commission found “shoddy” work. Concerns about lack of transparency in defence purchases have not drawn any meaningful response either.

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