Introduction
Since the commencement of activities of Transparency International Bangladesh
(TIB) in 1997 the Chapter has undertaken some research and awareness activities.
These activities have included an essay and cartoon competition for school
and college students, a competition for journalists to encourage investigative
journalism, publication of newsletters in Bangla and English, conducting
of a household survey on corruption and workshops with people from various
walks of life in different cities of Bangladesh. TIB has participated
in a number of regional and international seminars and workshops.
The State of Affairs in Bangladesh
The corruption survey report (Survey on Corruption in Bangladesh, 1997)
and the subsequent interaction with the public has revealed that corruption
in Bangladesh exists in many sectors and the intensity is alarming high:
sectors including the police, judiciary, land registration offices, health
clinics, and schools, operated only if individuals paid bribes. Corruption
in the country has become a huge systemic problem that cannot be avoided
by any member of society. They recognise that while there are honest and
fair people who do not wish to take or pay bribes, it is increasingly
difficult to perform even the most mundane activities without encountering
this kind of corruption.
TIB must go about its work in a way that is unique to organizations in
Bangladesh. TIB's task would be to publicise people's shared concerns
about corruption, and generate enough public outrage and pressure regarding
corruption to create an environment conducive to reform. TIB is a catalyst
for change, and that involves shedding light on problems, bringing together
stakeholders who will formulate action plans to bring about change, and
then continually drawing attention to the problems and the proposed solutions
until reform is achieved. TIB sees itself as a broad-based membership
pressure group that raises public awareness by providing accurate information
and then keeps public awareness high until those with the power to make
changes actually accomplish the necessary reform.
The Future
Transparency International - Bangladesh (TIB) has put together an 'Ideas
Paper' (Ideas Paper - Input for Strategic Planning, 1998) in order to
develop an anti-corruption strategy.
The 'Ideas Paper' was put together over a period of time through interviews
of individuals closely connected with TIB. The intention was to put down
on paper the emerging thoughts and then to become a source of input for
the process of strategic planning.
As part of TIB's effort to formulate a future strategy it organised a
workshop on 14th & 15th" of July 1999 in
Dhaka ('Workshop on Conscientisation of the Civil Society in Strengthening
Integrity'). The workshop was a means to identify the main areas of concern
for TIB from a range of issues highlighted in the 'Ideas Paper'. The process
leading to the present position has gone through various stages:
-
gathering of detailed historical and statistical information on the
level and extent of corruption in Bangladesh,
-
public reaction to the published information,
-
private interactions between TIB and various segments of the society,
-
seeking of opinion from prominent members of the civil society, and
-
guidance from various TI chapters.
The overwhelming realisation that has taken place within TIB is that
the curbing of corruption in Bangladesh has to be seen in the context
of a longer-term action plan to improve the state of governance. In order
to formulate such a strategy a number of themes have been incorporated
in the 'Ideas Paper'. The themes are:
-
to develop indigenous ideas at grassroots level
-
to build coalitions among like-minded civil society organisations
and individuals
-
to encourage and strengthen watchdog organisations in order to exert
pressure for better service delivery
-
to engage in participatory research to increase awareness and develop
advocacy programmes around specific issues
-
the need to focus on various levels of administration and that a coalition
of forces will have to exert sufficient impact on the decision-makers
to improve transparency, accountability and participation
-
that the public has to channel their collective energy to bring about
improvement in their quality of life through better service delivery
Two themes which are very important to TIB’s future plans and programmes
are firstly, to develop a holistic approach to the curbing of corruption.
It is an incontrovertible fact that corruption in Bangladesh is pervasive
and endemic. Therefore, in order to tackle such a deep malaise the plans
and programmes have to be holistic. In other words, TIB has to initiate
changes in different important sectors, including economic, social and
political concurrently.
Secondly, in the present world context of increasing globalisation TIB,
nevertheless, advocates an indigenous perspective. As it is very succinctly
put in the 'Ideas Paper:
"TIB believes that the fight against corruption needs to be primarily
from an indigenous perspective in order to be effective. The identification
of corrupt practices by organizations outside Bangladesh can easily be
dismissed by government and other sectors as biased or inaccurate. Pressure
from a group of citizens of Bangladesh working from their own concerns
and agenda will have a much more significant impact. TIB therefore desires
to continue to formulate its own ideas for its work and to seek out partners
and donors who value their independence and are willing to make decisions
collaboratively. "
The indigenous perspective has to be catalysed into a grassroots movement.
To cite from the 'Ideas Paper’:
"In order to have significant impact on eradicating the widespread
systemic corruption that exists throughout Bangladesh, TIB believes it
is necessary to promote a groundswell of public support for reform at
every level. A grassroots movement, with substantial numbers of common
people demanding change, will ultimately be more successful than a top-down
approach. TIB believes its greatest impact will come from catalysing and
channeling widespread public insistence on reform throughout the country.
Substantial and lasting change will be accomplished only if a large number
of people from every socioeconomic background demand accountability and
transparency in the way services are provided. "
All the aforementioned themes and other specific ideas were put to the
participants of the 'Workshop on Conscientisation of the Civil Society
in Strengthening Integrity' held in July 1998.
The Workshop on Conscientisation of the Civil Society'
The objective of the workshop was to initiate an interaction between
civil society members, media persons, parliamentarians and other TI Chapter,
and would lead to the creation of a framework for curbing of corruption
in Bangladesh. The four sessions were:
-
The Role of the Civil Society in Counter-Corruption Strategy;
-
The Role of Parliament in increasing Transparency and Accountability;
-
The Role of the Watchdog Agencies and Media in Strengthening Integrity;
and
-
The Development of a Regional and International Network: The Role
of TI Chapters
Some very specific recommendations emerged from each of the workshops.
Recommendations for TIB:
-
TI-B needs to assess its capacity and devise a * strategy on how it
will collaborate with other civil society organizations and the modalities
for organising the grassroots people/institutions.
-
TI-B should prioritise and select areas of focus and concentrate on
identifying stakeholders and beneficiaries of corruption.
-
TI-B can use the existing NGO network for awareness raising, civic
education and mobilising people at the grassroots level.
-
TI-B should join hands with existing local groups and organise wherever
necessary, local anti-corruption committees.
-
TI-B can build up an effective coalition for exchanging information,
pressuring government institutions to take steps against corruption
and for monitoring these institutions.
-
TI-B can serve as a forum to voice people's complaints and experiences
of corruption.
-
TI-B can act as an effective pressure group (esp. lending weight to
local issues) and suggest policy alternatives.
-
TI-B study on corruption was pointed was a first step which can be
repeated. TI-B may focus on providing service to the victims.
-
TI-B should also focus its research on -why anti-corruption bodies
are not effective and why the elected representative are not combating
corruption effectively.
The issues raised in this session fell under two broad categories:
-
ensuring transparency and accountability of the parliament itself,
and
-
the role of the parliament in ensuring transparency and accountability
of other governmental and civic bodies.
Recommendations for TIB:
The parliamentarians suggested that
-
standing committees should be composed according to the proportional
representation in the parliament
-
MPs from the opposition should be allowed to chair some of the standing
Committees.
-
Ministers should be present at meetings and should be bound to disclose
the committee recommendations to the parliament and the press.
-
MPs also pointed out that standing committees should have high visibility
in the media and in the house.
-
Strong links with the civil society should be created through the
committee system.
Aside from standing committees, some MPs suggested that
-
the deputy speaker can be chosen from the opposition party Suggested
that EC should have its own permanent staff
-
MPs also pointed out that sometimes the opposition should be allowed
to set the agenda for discussion and that national issues should be
discussed even if the party in power opposes it
-
MPs wanted a proper library and support staff.
The Non-MP participants suggested that
-
provisions should be made for defamation cases for those MPs who play
to the gallery and that perjury law should be passed.
-
pointed out parliamentary proceedings should be made accessible to
the public.
-
the public and the media should have access to documents and proceedings
to standing committees
-
they wanted it to be mandatory that all the MPs submit statements
of assets and liabilities to the EC and that all the ministers do the
same before they enter and leave office
-
suggested that the political parties accounts should be audited. These
reports should be made available for public consumption. However, someone
cautioned that these steps may backfire and the situation may turn out
to be "setting a thief to catch a thief'"
-
pointed out that MPs should be available for question-answer sessions
whether pressure groups and concerned citizens group can be formed in
the constituencies to monitor the activities of the Ws
-
TI-B should work to make it a requirement to audit accounts of political
parties so that influence of black money and muscle power can be curbed
-
to require elected officials disclose assets and liabilities and subject
them to public scrutiny
-
to reform electoral laws in order to make it possible to recall or
disqualify corrupt elected officials such persons as loan defaulters.
In the third session the discussion centered on the following three areas:
-
the type of regulatory framework and the watchdog agencies and organisations
that are internal and external to government
-
how effective are these agencies and organisations
-
how these organisations can be strengthened and what TIB can do to
build a network with these organisations.
Recommendations for TIB :
-
TIB could work as a co-ordination body for various human rights watchdog
groups
-
TIB to conduct a study of how the internal watchdog agencies and the
criminal justice system operates
-
TIB can pressure the government to provide easy-to-understand information
sheets and booklets about procedures, rules, regulations and costs of
services to the citizens
-
TIB to act as a centre for lodging complaints which TIB can either
publish or notify the concerned bodies as Amnesty International does
-
TIB should create a monitoring mechanism by identifying specific institutions
and carrying out public perception surveys and repeating these surveys
so that the citizens know what to expect and the officers would then
fear follow up action
-
TIB corruption survey was appreciated as a flag mark event, however,
the participants expressed that TIB should be more action-oriented
-
TIB to network with human rights organisation and focus on corruption
victims to raise awareness and to organise them
-
TIB could work with the new economic regulatory bodies (SEC, Fair
Trading Commission, privatisation commission etc.) which are being formed
and influence their work patterns
-
TIB will have to work in various steps, identifying the problems and
asking them what course of action should be taken and try to get these
institutions to work and to reform.
The discussion in this session mainly focussed on the advantages of international
networking and regional co-operation in South Asia. The quest-ions fielded
by the moderator were the following:
-
are there any advantage of international networking
-
what tasks do TI-B perceive in international networking ? what does
it expect from other chapters and how does TI-B plan to contribute?
-
What does TI-B plan to do in a regional network?
However, before these questions were put forward a brief description
of TI objectives and international activities were presented. Some participants
drew attention to TI's relationship with the international donor agencies
and whether TI would be able to take any effective steps to prevent "donor-aided"
corruption and international business corruption.
The representative of various TI chapters pointed out that international
networking has helped the chapters to exchange information about counter
corruption strategies. This has helped many chapters in devising strategies
who have the same socio-political, economic and legal conditions. International
networking also helped the chapters to exchange information on how corruption
gets rooted in various socio-political system which is vital for devising
regional or country specific strategies. It was also pointed out by the
TI chapters' representatives that as different chapters were at different
stages of growth networking has helped to make this growing process a
learning process for all the chapters.
The participants also stated that in combating corruption at one point
the country chapters will have to "take on the big guys" which
means it will need powerful regional and international partners for support.
International networking has also helped the chapters to "borrow
new ideas" from other chapters. Moreover, international connections
added leverage to TI chapter activities in some countries (e.g.. Malaysia).
As for developing a regional co-operation and anti-corruption strategy
plan the opinion among the TI chapters representatives was divided. TIB
wanted a regional co-operation and anti-corruption strategy to be formulated
after all the South Asian chapters have been formed. Some representatives
cautioned that country chapters should not over extend themselves. In
planning a regional anti-corruption plan they should keep in mind the
socio-political scenario and civil-military nexus and devise their plans
accordingly.
However, TI-India suggested that a regional co-operation plan should
begin right now in spite of the differences of development among South
Asian chapters. TI-Sri Lanka pointed out that since all South Asian countries
are experiencing new economic developments (stock markets, privatisation
etc.) that the chapters can co-operate with each other in sharing information,
experiences and in devising ways to combat corruption in this area.
The need for a regional Source book on corruption was stressed by most
of the chapter representatives. TIB pointed out that it wanted to network
with other non TI agencies fighting corruption in South Asian region.
TI-India wanted immediate launching of a regional secretariat to coincide
with the conference. TIB offered its services for the first year after
which the secretariat would rotate. TI-Nepal seconded this proposal. The
session concluded with all other chapters endorsing this proposal.
List of 'Priority' Activities:
In view of the Ideas Paper and the workshop held on 15th & 16th of
July 1998 the following are the activities that could be pursued by TIB:
-
the establishment of Concerned Citizens Committees;
-
the establishment of Advice and Information Centres;
-
the establishment of TIB clubs at schools and colleges;
-
research into the anti-corruption laws and institutions;
-
research on incentive package, diagnostic studies, completing the
overview paper for TAF, completing the write-up on the focus group discussion
for TAF;
-
the publication of the annotated bibliography and the three papers
with the overview as a book or individual monographs;
-
holding of a seminar jointly with EDI of WB and the Parliamentary
Centre of Canada as a follow-up to TIB's workshop and the Laurentian
Seminar in Canada;
-
the second year of the Investigative Journalism Award;
-
undertaking a second round of service delivery survey;
-
undertaking a second round of news scan;
-
undertaking an advocacy programme based on the research output;
-
undertake the compilation and publication of a regional source book;
-
developing a framework for NGOs to increase transparency and accountability;
and
A like-minded group of donors has expressed interest in assisting TIB
with the proposed activities. It is envisaged that TIB will soon be in
a position to commence some of the aforementioned activities.
Conclusion
The support of TIB Board of Trustees and TI-Secretariat has been crucial
in its development over the last twelve months since the last Annual General
Meeting in Lima, Peru. The next twelve months will hopefully witness the
start of some exciting new programmes in Bangladesh, which will generally
enhance the level of transparency and accountability. Manzoor Hasan
Executive Director |
