THE UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (UNCESCR) has expressed concern over the pervasiveness of corruption and its devastating impact on the disadvantaged and marginalized people in Bangladesh. It expressed concern over “widespread clientelism”, which manipulates allocation of public fund and services, and the Anti-Corruption Commission’s “inefficiency” in combating graft.
Until the freedom of expression prevails in the country, the accountability and transparency of government service delivery would remain a fairytale. But who is responsible for checking corruption, the Parliament, is ineffective. The checks and balances that effectively verify misappropriations of power in many states are absent in our legislature and practice.
The UN body asked Bangladesh government to take concrete steps to improve public governance and ensure transparency in conducting public affairs. Besides, the anti-corruption legislation should be enforced strictly and all, including high-level officials and politicians, involved in graft are prosecuted without exception.
The UN body suggested that Bangladesh should fully incorporate the covenant rights into its domestic legal order with a Constitutional rank equal to that of civil and political rights and that these rights are applied by the local courts at all levels. Apart from the ACC, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) should be strengthened by formulating laws for its independence. The shrinking space for human rights defenders, including journalists, trade union activists, civil society members and dissenting voices generally is a high concern.
The ACC and NHRC should play an active role to establish citizens’ rights and check corruption regardless post and position of anyone. Shrinking democracy and unchecked rights violation cannot be good for the government.
Until the freedom of expression prevails in the country, the accountability and transparency of government service delivery would remain a fairytale. But who is responsible for checking corruption, the Parliament, is ineffective. The checks and balances that effectively verify misappropriations of power in many states are absent in our legislature and practice.
The UN body asked Bangladesh government to take concrete steps to improve public governance and ensure transparency in conducting public affairs. Besides, the anti-corruption legislation should be enforced strictly and all, including high-level officials and politicians, involved in graft are prosecuted without exception.
The UN body suggested that Bangladesh should fully incorporate the covenant rights into its domestic legal order with a Constitutional rank equal to that of civil and political rights and that these rights are applied by the local courts at all levels. Apart from the ACC, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) should be strengthened by formulating laws for its independence. The shrinking space for human rights defenders, including journalists, trade union activists, civil society members and dissenting voices generally is a high concern.
The ACC and NHRC should play an active role to establish citizens’ rights and check corruption regardless post and position of anyone. Shrinking democracy and unchecked rights violation cannot be good for the government.
