07/07/2021
Corruption is impeding Bangladesh’s development.
If corruption could be prevented, the country's development would be more dynamic.
When Bangladesh emerged in the world map, 85 percent of people were poor. At present, poverty rate in the country is 24.3 percent (BBS survey 2016). According to 'Human Development Index and Indicator' published on September 15, 2018, the life expectancy of Bangladesh's people has increased. Bangladesh has fulfilled the criteria of developing countries in the last 10 years. And from the purchasing power side, Bangladesh is the 37th largest economy in the world. According to the US-based international organization Price Water Cooper House, 2030, Bangladesh will be the 28th largest economy in the world. According to the Center for Economics & Business Research Report 2019, by 2032, Bangladesh will be one of the world's 25 biggest economies of the world. In 2033, Bangladesh will be behind the countries like Malaysia, Sweden, Switzerland, Singapore, Vietnam and South Africa as far as development is concerned.
Now, if corruption could be prevented, the country's development would be more dynamic. Peace in the country will be established and values of the people would be strengthened. In AL election manifesto of 2018, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina spoke about adopting the policy of zero tolerance against corruption. Prior to this, she said in an event in the capital, “I have campaigned against terrorism, operation against drugs. After this, zero tolerance will be declared against corruption.” After being sworn in as prime minister, on January 14, 2019 in the meeting of senior officials, the prime minister said, "Although it is not possible to eradicate completely corruption from the country, our government has a responsibility to prevent corruption as much as possible so that it does not impede the development of the country and let all our success fade.
Professor Abdul Mannan, chairman of Bangladesh University Grants Commission, said at an international conference on 30 October 2018 that the GDP could be increased by two percent to stop corruption at every level of the country.
On 9 December 2018, Mr. Iqbal Mahmood, chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission said, "Corruption is taking 2 to 3 percent of the country’s national economic growth.
In the first few years of previous decade, Bangladesh was almost in the top position of the corrupt country.
The cabinet members are talking about adopting zero tolerances policy against corruption.
According to the report of ‘People and Politics’ of 2017, Sheikh Hasina was in the third position on the list of honesty. But her government faces some allegations of corruption. If various functions of the government are performed with honesty, then Bangladesh is sure to become a great country in the world.
The writer is a gender and
development researcher.
