Md. Abdul Jalil :
The National Integrity Strategy (NIS) is a comprehensive set of goals, strategies, and action plans aimed at increasing the level of independence to perform with accountability, efficiency, transparency, and effectiveness of state and non-state institutions in a sustained manner. It is a holistic approach towards good governance.
Although ‘corruption’ is a frequently used word, most commonly it is defined as ”abuse of entrusted power for private gain”. General people believe that in many cases public offices at all levels misuse their positions for personal gain or to serve a few people. Keeping the citizens’ perception in mind about corruption, the government of Bangladesh formulated NIS outlining the vision titled ‘A happy and prosperous Golden Bengal” and the mission identified as “Establishment of good governance in the state and the society”.
Bangladesh first introduced NIS in 2012 in line with the guidance and directives of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. After the independence of the country, Bangabandhu, while addressing a public meeting advised to citizens “The nation must be united against corruption. If public opinion is not mobilized, corruption cannot be stopped by enforcement of law alone.”
This directive of the Father of the Nation became the intrinsic spirit of our NIS focused on establishing a corruption-free welfare state aiming to ensure equal opportunity for every citizen enjoying the benefits of prompt public service delivery without any hindrance.
NIS is an exclusive approach to fighting against corruption or abuse of entrusted power. We must have the courage to say “Wrong is wrong even if everybody is doing it”. On the other hand, we should also have much mental strength in promoting the spirit of “Right is right even if no one is doing it”.
The spirit of the Constitution is that Bangladesh would be a just and fair society. NIS is a strategy of the government of Bangladesh to prevent corruption and promote integrity in all affairs of individuals, organizations, society, and the state. It is a social movement against corruption. Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.
For a better understanding of the role of the media in implementing the NIS, discussion about some facets of public-society- government-media dynamics is essential. Similarly, it is very important to clarify and find out how media influences government and society and how media forms and cultivates public opinion in favor of implementing NIS through using different tools.
To my understanding, there are three essential roles of mass media in government. First of all, mass media helps people understand the operations of government; secondly, mass media participates in political decisions; and thirdly, mass media holds government officials accountable.
The present government under the prudent leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working relentlessly to bring about a positive change in the society and the governance. To that ends, the government firmly values the freedom of the press as the fourth estate after the executive, legislature, and judiciary in running the statecraft.
Press Information Department (PID), one of the vital organizations under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, has been working sincerely to bridge between the government and the media since its inception. To materialize the commitment of the government to the Right to Information for every citizen, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting enacted ‘The Right to Information Act, 2009’ and the National Online Mass Media Policy 2017.
As the technology and tools of ICT is gradually updating due to influenced by the innovation of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR), a different form of non-conventional media like-satellite television channel, internet protocol television (IPTV), Internet Protocol Radio (IP Radio), Community Radio (CR), YouTube, Facebook, mobile app, online social media, etc. are getting popular in our country. Particularly, mass media can strengthen the implementation process of NIS by raising awareness among citizens through proper reporting on the incidence of corruption, its causes and consequences, and possible remedies.
Citizens’ sensitization is an essential part of the motivation process, which needs to focus on. The media can sensitize the citizen about their rights with the emphasis on the Right to Information, Citizens’ Charter, and Grievance Redress System of the government. Reporting on the incidence of integrity to recognize the honest people of the society by the media, especially social media can play a catalytic role.
The Cabinet Division is encouraging the different stakeholders by arranging seminars and symposiums, workshops, and independent studies on the issue of NIS implementation and its various tools. Among the stakeholders, the media workers particularly the journalists are considered as the frontliners.
It is firmly believed that greater collaboration between media and government would create new avenues for the cooperation and dynamic further in achieving our common goal of establishing a just, fair, and corruption-free society in line with the political philosophy, ideal, and spirit of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
As an enlightened section of society and a watchdog of the government, journalists from the print, electronic, and online media must play a crucial role in educating people on how to cope with changing scenarios and their mindset in favor of nurturing honesty, integrity, and a corruption-free value system in the society for the greater interest of the country and the future generation.
(Abridged)
(The writer is Senior Deputy Principal Information Officer to the Government currently working at the Press Information Department/PID under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting).
