CORRUPTION, bribery, money laundering and human rights violations continue unabated in the country, posing serious challenges towards attaining the Sustainable Development Goal-16. Anti-Graft Watchdog Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) observed that various government agencies were not functioning as expected due to political influence, centralisation of power and dominance of executive branch.
We do not find reasons to disagree with the observation of Berlin-based Global Anti-Corruption campaigner. The government now-a-days is seemingly taking efforts to formulate many policies but the institutional ineptness, impunity, inclination to financial corruption, bureaucratic entanglement, and poor law and order situation are the prime impediments for attaining the SDG-16 which is vital for achieving all the 17 global goals by 2030.
The watchdog body said Bangladesh may face challenges to achieve the targets : significant reduction of illicit financial and arms flows, strengthening recovery and return of stolen assets, and combating all forms of organised crimes by 2030; substantial reduction of corruption and bribery in all forms; development of effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels; and ensuring public access to information and protecting fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislations and international agreements.
The government hurls blame to the political opponents for depositing illegal money at Swiss banks but the deposit of Bangladeshi citizens and organisations in Swiss banks has increased from Tk 4,627 crore in 2015 to Tk 5,560 crore in 2016. Lack of accountability of state-owned commercial banks, and politico-bureaucratic union in committing corruption are among the challenges which need to be overcome to achieve the goals. The economy has been running out of proportion as the money launderers remain out of legal process due to lingering trial process. Moreover, they belong to or maintain link with people who have political powers, mostly from ruling class. In 2010, only 10 money-laundering cases saw verdicts, while 222 such cases are now under trial.
Corruption is “hugely present” in the country despite having sufficient legal and institutional means in place to combat it. The efforts of Anti-Corruption Commission is not up to the mark as only a few cases are investigated and even fewer cases end in conviction. Alongside legal limitations, the ACC has no strategic plan to combat graft, while wealth statements of public servants are not available for common people, which are key challenges to achieving goal. More importantly, ACC works at the instruction of the government and more busy to keep the opposition figures under pressure.
The executive power is exercised by or under the authority of the head of the government, not by the Cabinet while the judiciary suffers from a huge case backlog. Regarding protection of fundamental freedoms, there are a number of issues to be worried about. Despite continuous protests by various human rights organisations, extra-judicial killings, arbitrary or unlawful detentions, and forced disappearances by government security forces have continued. The government continues to deny even the existence of any extra-judicial killing.
SDG-16 sets challenges for promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions. To achieve the goal, firm political commitment, bureaucratic preparedness, administrative openness and accountability as well as curtailing the politico-administrative corruption liaison must be ensured through a deliberative process.
