Measuring Corruption in Bangladesh:

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• Measuring Corruption in Bangladesh
• Can Communication Work?
• Iftekhar Zaman
• Executive Director
• Transparency International Bangladesh
• --------------------------------------------------
  -------------------------------
• Presented at the DAC Heads of Information
  Conference 2006 on
• The Aid Agenda Corruption, Governance Aid
  Effectiveness
• Communicating the Big Issues.
• Canberra, 17-19 May 2006.

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• Bangladesh Remarkable Social Progress
• Steady economic growth (5-6 ) since 1990s
• Decline in population growth (2.5 in 80s to 1.7
  in 1990-2004)
• Primary education enrollment from 72 in 1980 to
  98 in 2001
• Infant mortality from 145 in 1970 to 46 in 2003
  per 1000 live births
• Child mortality from 239 to 69 per 1000 during
  the same
• Share of population in poverty from 59 in 1990 to
  50 in 2000
• Food security markedly increased near
  self-sufficiency
• All these gains achieved despite widely
  acknowledged governance failures

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• Corruption the key problem
• Corruption a global challenge
• More than bribery - Abuse of power for private
  gain - power in the government outside
  economic, political and social power.
• Increases poverty and injustice
• Prevents development and rule of law
• Undermines democracy and governance
• Distorts market and stifles economic growth
• Breeds crimes, social frustration, discontent and
  insecurity

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• CORRUPTION Bias against the poor
• Corruption - a key challenge against development
  in Bangladesh, and a major political issue
• More than Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) -
  acknowledged across political spectrum
• Opportunity Cost about 3 percent higher growth
  was possible
• Diverts investment and discourages development
  partnership - exclusion of Bangladesh from US MCA
  attributed to corruption.
• 75 of more than 35 billion received since
  independence have been estimated to have been
  lost for corruption
• The poor are directly affected - access to
  essential services such as education, health,
  justice and individual safety has become a
  function of the capacity to make unauthorized
  payments.
• Main impediment to meeting the PRS and MDG.

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Corruption Preventing access to education
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Corruption Preventing access to health service
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Corruption Preventing law enforcement
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Household Income lost to bribery
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FIGHTING CORRUPTION

• The key challenge linkage with power.
• Complete eradication of corruption is not a
  realistic proposition.
• Strengthening of key institutions the national
  integrity system is the prerequisite backed by
  highest level political will and preparedness to
  act without fear or favour.

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• The National Integrity System
• a) Parliament Standing Committees
• b) Central Role of the Executive
• c) Neutral and non-political public service
  commission Public Service Code of Ethics -
  Accountability, Rigorously practiced Conflict of
  Interest policy
• d) Transparent Competitive Public Procurement
• e) High Standards in Financial Management
• f) Competitive and Socially Responsible Private
  Corporate Sector
• Independent Judiciary
• Professional Law Enforcement Institutions -
  Police
• h) The Auditor General

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• i) Independent Anti-Corruption Institution,
  laws effectiveness enforcement
• j) Empowered local government
• k) Independent Election Commission capable of
  delivering free and fair election
• An Independent and Free Media - Access to
  Information
• The Ombudsman
• n) The Civil Society citizens voice and
  citizens movement
• o) International Actors and Mechanisms UN
  Convention

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• TI-Bangladesh Creating Demand by Measuring
  Corruption Does it Work?
• Household surveys
• Diagnostic Studies
• National Integrity System Monitoring
• ParliamentWatch, CourtWatch
• Report Cards citizens response
• Corruption Database

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• Measuring Corruption - Does it Work?
• Research-Plus
• Work with the Government for policy reform and
  institutional change
• Dissemination for awareness and opinion
  building through media campaign TVC, adverts,
  bill- boards, posters, stickers, etc.

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Engage Citizens

• Committees of Concerned Citizens (CCCs)
• Lead public awareness participation campaign
• Seminars, workshops, rallies, roundtables,
  specific events/days
• Inform and advise the public
• Engage public officials representatives in
  motivational and specific action-oriented
  activities
• Creating Islands of Integrity - Report Cards as
  tools

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• Build Constituencies
• Working with media, CSO/NGOs, development
  partners
• Memberships, Friends, Fellowships, Internships
• Engaging the youth - volunteers groups, theatre
  other cultural groups students for civic
  education.

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• In Lieu of a Conclusion
• To fight corruption requires highest level
  political commitment for courageous action
  without fear or favour.
• Where the political commitment is weak, and
  institutions are not functioning independently
  and effectively create demand inform,
  communicate and campaign for a social movement.

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