Staff Reporter :
Transparency International (TI) Chairman José Carlos Ugaz on Monday said civil society’s freedom of speech is vital to eliminate corruption from the society of Bangladesh.
“Civil society’s freedom of speech is vital to eliminate corruption from the society. Otherwise the level of corruption will keep increasing in the society,” he said at a press conference at Dhaka University Senate Bhaban yesterday afternoon.
José Carlos added the anti-graft body will monitor government’s move in this regard.
To mark the anti-graft body Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ACC) 20-year-long journey against the corruption in the country, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) organised the press conference.
He called upon the ACC to enhance collaboration with international anti-graft bodies in a bid to eliminate corruption from the society of the country.
Earlier in the morning, the visiting TI chief met ACC Chairman Iqbal Mahmood at the Commission’s head office in the city.
Ugaz said he has got an impression through media reports that the ACC is now working hard to prevent and combat corruption in the country. That is why the Commission should strengthen collaboration with international anti-graft bodies in different countries, he added. ACC can take widely-exercised best practices from those international anti-corruption agencies, which will help it fight the social menace in Bangladesh, he added.
TI will provide all technical supports to the ACC to increase its capacity to fight corruption, TI chair assured.
Replying to a question from Carlos Ugaz whether the Commission faces any problem for lack of government coordination, Iqbal Mahmood said the ACC is getting money and manpower from the government as per its demand.
However, he said the ACC has some weaknesses in conducting probes into graft allegations and asset recovery.
“If the TI extends its technical support to the Commission, this will be quite possible to overcome the weakness through extensive training,” Iqbal Mahmood said. TIB executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman, its deputy executive director Prof Sumaiya Khair and ACC director general Dr Shamsul Arefin were, among others, present at the meeting. The TI global Board Chairman expressed concern over government’s move to formulate Foreign Donations Regulations (Amendment) Act.
The bill could severely restrict civil society’s access to funding and hinder their activities and freedom of speech, according to experts.
A comprehensive strategy is needed to reduce corruption in Bangladesh as it has gone to a systematic and structural level, he also said.
TIB Chairperson and human rights activist Sultana Kamal was also present among others at the press conference.
