How do we combat corruption?

The statistics coming out of the discussions were as eye-popping as they were depressingly familiar. According to one estimate, 75 percent of the Tk 2000 billion of foreign aid and grants received since independence has been siphoned off. Bribes paid to officials may be as high as Tk 160 million a year. It is estimated that corruption retards GDP growth by a full 2 percent per year.

The recommendations which came out of the discussions were as always solid ones. Indeed, they were all the obvious ones that, not surprisingly, successive governments have chosen to turn a blind eye to.

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It is now a matter of political will. This is difficult since it is of course the politicians and their acolytes in the bureaucracy and other services such as the police who are the ultimate beneficiaries of most of the corruption.

Let us second some of the suggestions put forth. We agree that there should be pre-auditing of projects and that secretaries of relevant ministries should keep constant tabs on how funds are being utilised. Constant oversight over the allocation and expenditure on development projects could go a long way to clearing the air.

Strong local government is also an antidote to corruption, as this permits for oversight much closer to the ground than if everything has to be run by a distant centralised bureaucracy.

It all starts with elections, however, and much responsibility must rest with the political parties.

One major component of reducing corruption would be election reform and internal party reform. The parties must reform themselves so that dishonest people do not become MPs. That is the first step and it applies to all parties. After this, it is a question of governance, and the responsibility lies with the government of the day. Let us hope that they are sitting up and taking heed.