Hon'ble Prime Minister, you can do it

However, the resignation cannot be viewed as an end in itself. It must be followed up by investigating deep into the case and bringing to justice the guilty. Otherwise it would turn out to be more of symbolism than anything else.

The resignation (or virtual sacking?), perhaps the first of its kind in Bangladesh, has also created an excellent opportunity to inform the public what has been going on in the energy as well as many other sectors. If other resignations were due, it is not too late.

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The Prime Minister has also created an opportunity for herself and her colleagues in the Government to look back at what their party promised when they sought the mandate of the people. They pledged through their election manifesto to establish a "corruption-free prosperous Bangladesh", and promised a number of high priority specific actions for uprooting corruption. Now that the Prime Minister has given us one example, she can deliver other commitments, only if she wants.

We don't see any reason why the appointment of Ombudsman has not yet taken place. We do believe that if the Government wanted, conditions could be created where the Anti-corruption Commission set up in response to public demand could function independently and effectively. The Prime Minister has the capacity to deliver on the promise her party made to establish transparency and accountability in public procurement.

Commitment was also made to establish strict control of any efforts for abuse of influence. It is never too late to take steps to publish, as promised, the accounts of wealth of the Prime Minister, Ministers and all individuals of equivalent status including people's representatives. It would in fact add tremendously to the Prime Minister's and her Government's credibility.

Now is also an opportunity to send another strong signal by preventing the approval of the budget proposal to whiten the black money, which is a pure and simple recipe for institutionalization of corruption. People want this proposal to be rejected outright. Failure to do so will not only reward those who are involved in corruption, but also encourage them to do more of it, while at the same time it would also expand the network and power-base of corruption encompassing greater and greater number of people in this menacing disease. It will also provide clear evidence that there is a lack of political will at the highest levels to fight corruption. We are sure that the Prime Minister doesn't want this for the sake of the people of this country, and for our international image about which, as far as media reports go, she and her colleagues in the Cabinet are quite disturbed - for good reasons.

If the concern is genuine, we would appeal for a dispassionate answer to the key question as to who is responsible for this national embarrassment. We believe that the Government has the power and means to bring to justice those who are abusing entrusted power for personal or group interests, and imposing this humiliation to the country and the vast majority of the people who have nothing to do with it except being the victims of all its negative implications. Otherwise, there would be reasons to believe that the network of corruption resides within the Government, or may have even stronger support base.

Finally, we appeal to the Prime Minister to move ahead and demonstrate the political will to take the challenge on. She has already indicated that it can be done. Specific follow up actions are now needed to fulfill commitments made so that corruption can be reduced to the extent that she would be commended for generations. If not now, the challenges will become more daunting tomorrow, for which the next generation would never forgive us.

Iftekharuzzaman is Executive Director, Transparency International Bangladesh.