*Ending Corruption: Towards a collaborative strategy*

*Prof. Syed Ahsanul Alam**

* *

Corruption in its all shades and color is the illegal tool of accumulating
illegal wealth depriving a person which creates inequality and social
injustice. Corruption destroys social order, rule of law and all good
governance efforts. Corruption and the corrupts are the enemies of the
people and the society in any country. That is why fighting corruption and
installing honesty is a pre condition for good governance for ensuring human
rights, human dignity, equality and social justice and better business
environment.

Holding the first position in Corruption Perception Index (CPI) for 5
consecutive years has tarnished the image of Bangladesh, and in such a
situation majority of the citizens did not know what to do and how to start
a fight against this man made tool of exploitation called corruption. Under
the previous oppressive corrupt governance and social system conscious
citizens attempted to raise voice against this evil through the media or
different civil societies organizations. Today everybody including the
Chairman Anti-Corruption Commission emphasizes on the reality of designing a
collaborative strategy to limit this evil call corruption. The following
nonviolent silent strategies may be used to curve down corrupt practices in
every sector of Bangladesh.

* *

*Ending Corruption: Naming and shaming strategy*

Naming and shaming can be a very effective tactic to eradicate corruption in
any country. Even in developing countries, where corruption is accepted as a
necessary evil, naming and shaming tactic has been effective in recent
years. In India, high profile cases uncovered and actively reported by the
citizen action group have led to disgraceful dismissals of high level
government officials and even criminal action against public figures. No
such example has been set by the political governments in Bangladesh in the
past. But citizen action groups or the media demonstrated ability to
generate outrage among the public that can be channeled productively to
control and eradicate corruption. Nobody can undermine the role and power of
media in the society for establishing good governance.

* *

*Ending Corruption: Creating awareness strategy among the Stakeholders*

Everyday policy makers, professionals, business leaders, sociologist,
economists and others independently generate amazing number of ideas and
thoughts. The reasons that these ideas don't come to fruition is because
like-minded reformers do seldom collaborate to bring changes. There are a
lot of international and domestic organizations, NGOs, government agencies,
opinion leaders and others – that are all individually working on tackling
corruption in a piece-meal fashion. A more comprehensive approach to
address corruption will be more fruitful. Corruption can be marginalized if
not eliminated if all stakeholders work together in a coordinated manner
against corruption. **

Ideas and thoughts are ineffective if not put to actions. Unless what is
thought is acted upon, such thought has no value. What is important is the
commitment of all the citizens – leaders of respective fields– to take on
the challenge of ending corruption and to do one's own part to address it in
a collaborative manner. Corruption, as in all affairs in society may be
viewed from the two sides: *a demand side* and *a supply side*. The *demand
* *side* can only be curbed by reforms of institutions, strengthened
enforcement of law by a transparent judiciary. As the owner of the country
all citizens are affected by corruption everyday, and as such they should
insist reforms of the legislative, executive and judicial organ of the
country. The stake holders of a corruption free society should get united to
raise voice against corruption to curve the *supply side*. Thus the citizens
will have to participate in the battle against corruption and only moral
support to the Anti Corruption Commission (*ACC*) is not enough to eliminate
corruption.

* *

*Ending Corruption: Creating awareness among the Civil Society*

Citizens face potential corruption practically at every level and every
sector of life. It could be the local police, T.N.T, electricity and water
authority, Municipal Corporation or the tax department. Government alone
cannot succeed in combating corruption without the active participation of
civil society and citizen action groups. Civil society is in the best
position to articulate the grievances of the citizen and highlight
priorities of action on corruption to governments. Civil society can serve
many important roles–as observer, critic, analyst, campaigner, or protestor.
It can create public awareness against corruption and mobilize citizens to
fight against corruption in ways that governments cannot. Civil society can
also play a strong role to organize campaigns against corruption.
Center ForGood Governance is working with many civic organizations for
capacity
building of such organization.



*Ending Corruption: Creating awareness among Chambers and Trade Bodies*

As Civil society organizations, Citizens' action groups, NGOs, media, and
Chambers–can play the largest role in improving governance both in the
public and private sector. Similarly *Chambers* can be more active by
organizing seminars, workshops, round tables to generate awareness against
corruption and unethical business practice. Chambers can establish
*anti* *corruption
cell* headed by a vice president with adequate funds to establish liaison
with media, anti corruption commission (ACC) and other government agencies
to combat corruption and protect its members from extortion and corrupt
claims. Mega chambers should formulate code of conduct for their members and
put pressure on the members for compliance. Awareness regarding code of
conduct for members of chambers would have trickle down effect on smaller
business enterprises and so on. **

* *

*Ending Corruption: Creating awareness among Private Sector*

The private sector can play a more active role in rooting out the *supply
side* of corruption. It is painful that most businessman and citizens looks
at corrupt practice as a system. According to unofficial estimates many
business house just account for it on their books – as much as 10% – adding
to the cost of doing business. Business leaders as well as the government
should take initiatives so that local and foreign investors can set up
business enterprise and function in Bangladesh without resorting to
corruption and extortion. After 1/11/07 the present Anti corruption
commission (ACC) visibly started a crusade against corruption which may be
looked upon as a proactive move towards corruption free governance.**

For eradicating corruptions the private sector must emphasize on internal
controls and auditing mechanisms. Corporate bodies and business houses
needs to set clear and enforceable policies against corrupt or unethical
business practices. Business house need to periodically train middle and
senior management on business ethics to ensure that standards are
institutionalized throughout the organization. Business houses should
change their mind-set to prefer managers having comprehensive business
education with emphasis on ethics. Any business managers can not afford to
be unaware of global ethical standards for doing business in Bangladesh.**

* *

*Conclusion*

In a developing country for good governance the fight against corruption is
not easy. Bangladesh recently started drive against corruption. It is
expected the present caretaker government, patriot citizens and other
stakeholders will be able to address the most difficult challenge – fighting
corruption. Corruption is a tremendous deterrent to good governance and
development, and its burden falls heaviest on the shoulders of the poor
people. An effective Anti-Corruption Commission – with strong political
backing, can become a credible tool to deter corruption. All concerned
should help the ACC to be fully operative. If Bangladesh wants to establish
corruption free business friendly environment, wants to become a country
free of poverty and economically strong, where every citizen will enjoy his
or her rights and a better quality life, ending corruption is the most
important need. It is the responsibility of every stakeholder to respond to
this need towards corruption free, transparent, participatory good
governance ensuring equity and social justice.**

No body will deny that, in Bangladesh the past governance mechanism was far
less then satisfactory. Many issues and problems were the barriers to ensure
good governance, equity and social justice. Weak watchdog institutions
corruption, political interference in administration, nepotism, misuse of
power, absence of rule of law, non-accountable and non-transparent
governments etc. are the common features of our governance which needs to be
addressed on urgent basis.





**


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Author Syed Ahsanul Alam is an Associate Professor of marketing at the
University of Chittagong, Bangladesh and Chairman, Center for Good
Governance. His recent administrative post includes vice rector IIBT (
Premier University), Director, Sadharon Bima Corp., Treasurer. USTC (SWC),
Representative of the President,USTC.He lactured widely at various business
schools including University of Science and Technology, Open University,
ABAC Thailand and also in Singapore. Rotarian Syed Ahsanul Alam is a well
known Academician, Institution Building Personality and Activist for Good
Governance.The Author may be reached at Fax : 880-31-2550872,

E-mail:centerforgoodgovernance@...,

Web-site: www.goodgovernancebd.org**


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


------------------------------------