Dr. Muhammad Mahtab Hossain Mazed

Recently, economic corruption has become a major topic of discussion in the country. Especially after the details of the massive corruption of the former police chief Benazir Ahmed were leaked to Gomar media, the entire country was uproar. ACC is currently conducting its corruption investigation. Along with this, the issue of US sanctions against former army chief General Aziz for corruption is also being discussed. However, according to the sources of the controversial media Al-Jazeera, the accusations brought by the United States against Aziz through military influence, bribery, illegal contracting and saving his condemned brothers are objective or reliable.

Because, such intervention of foreign countries in internal disciplinary matters raises political suspicions and America's non-strategic conspiracy to serve geopolitical interests cannot be ruled out. Because, America's biased and one-eyed policy for self-interest is proven and hated in the international environment.

In any case, the corruption of bureaucrats came under public criticism with the goat of NBR official Matiur Rahman, even though the corruption of bureaucrats is nothing new in this country. Recently, most of the Bangladeshis who have built luxurious residences abroad, including Canada, United States, and United Kingdom, have come up in the media as bureaucrats. Previously, when the massive corruption of the former land minister of Awami government, Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, was published in the media, a writ was filed in the High Court seeking its investigation.

Earlier, PK Halder and Hallmark's bank scams and large-scale money-laundering incidents sparked nationwide criticism. They are currently under trial. In addition, Awami leaders of Dhaka city, Samrat, Enu, Rupon, GK Salim, Shamim Pradhan, who were accused and punished for the casino incident and money laundering, responded as corrupt during the Awami government period. About 92 thousand crore rupees are smuggled abroad every year and the former planning minister of Awami government, Shamsul Alam, recently gave this information in a seminar regarding the creation of dollar crisis, which is of deep concern. However, money laundering corruption has been happening consistently since the previous governments and no single government can be blamed for it.

Corruption is a serious problem for every society and country. The causes, types, and nature of corruption are different in different societies. Corruption can take many forms. Many people understand corruption only as illegal or unethical financial transactions but anything that goes against the principles or conflicts with the principles is corruption.

Giving undeserved or unethical benefits to a relative without taking the benefit himself, depriving a deserving person of his rightful benefits is also serious corruption. It is also a major form of corruption not to perform the duties assigned to oneself properly. Depriving someone of their right to justice is a chronic corruption.

This form of corruption is responsible for nurturing a culture of corruption and eroding society from withinAnd corruption has become an obstacle to achieve the desired success in every field of the country's economy, politics, education, health and administration. In addition to the government's responsibility to fight corruption, the people also have a responsibility. It is an integrated process. Effective and concerted action by government and people is needed. Bangladesh is supporting the role of UN Convention against Corruption under the global framework to prevent and control corruption and has made great progress in asset recovery through mutual cooperation with other countries as per the guidelines of UN Anti-Corruption Charter. People are already enjoying the benefits of the zero tolerance policy adopted by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina against corruption.

The present government is providing full support to the Corruption Commission for functioning independently and impartially. In order to make it easy for people to file complaints related to corruption, a 'complaint receiving box' has been set up in the office of the District Commissioner of each district. People are also benefiting from immediate action. The election manifesto of the current government has also announced that the anti-corruption commission should be updated and modernized in terms of working environment and efficiency and continue to cooperate in the availability and practical use of modern information and technology. Parliamentary Standing Committees related to various ministries are strengthening review, monitoring and oversight activities to ensure transparency and accountability of the activities of the respective ministries. Several successful examples have already been seen in line with the government's election manifesto to curb bribery, ill-gotten gains, black money, extortion, debt-rigging, tender-fixing and muscle power, and crack down on corruption. :

The Prime Minister emphasized on the establishment of corruption-free administration and good governance to build a poverty-free Bangladesh. As a result of the crackdown on corruption, many have been caught by the law enforcement agencies and many have given cover. There is no laxity regarding corruption, rather the government's zero tolerance policy is playing a very effective role.

The Anti-Corruption Commission has formed 541 anti-corruption committees across the country with honest, dignified and strong people of the society, who are playing a vocal role in preventing corruption in their areas. The most groundbreaking step of the Anti-Corruption Commission is the launch of a toll-free hotline number. Anyone can report corruption by calling this number. Since the hotline 106 was introduced to report corruption related complaints to the commission, the general public has benefited. This initiative to immediately inform the Corruption Information Commission has received a huge response.

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's dream was to establish a happy, prosperous and peaceful society. But after the martyrdom of the father of the nation, that dream has been repeatedly thwarted, derailed and thwarted. The current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken the lead to realize the dream of the father of the nation. Several laws are playing an effective role in preventing corruption by the current government, among them the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009; Right to Information Act, 2009; Consumer Rights Protection Act, 2009; Public Finance and Budget Management Act, 2009; National Human Rights Commission Act, 2009; Disclosure of public interest-related information(Provision of Security) Act, 2011; Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act, 2012; Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2012 etc. It is true that corruption cannot be prevented only within legal frameworks, more social movements are needed. These laws paved the way for social movements.

There is a need to create and promote more realistic documentaries for media exposure in the country. Besides, with the help of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), the commission has launched the program of sending anti-corruption short messages to mobile phone users. It should be remembered that if various awareness messages against corruption can be sent again and again, it will bring benefits.

The anti-corruption commission's campaign, 'I will not do bad things, I will not tolerate bad things', 'I will do good things, everyone will build the country', 'I will think about the country, I will follow the path of policy', 'I will speak the truth, I will prevent injustice', ' I will abide by the law, I will be safe', 'Take an oath of patriotism, leave corruption', 'No one believes a liar',The program of distribution of notebooks, scales, geometry boxes containing slogans like 'Don't make fun of elders' among the students of class VI, VII, VIII and IX across the country is negligible compared to the need. It should be spread more widely. Currently, social media such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube can play a very effective role in preventing corruption.

There is no end of complaints against the Anti-Corruption Commission. In many cases, the influential remain undetected, or the ACC fails to show expected success in taking action against influential corrupt persons. The moral position of the officers and employees engaged in the commission should be strengthened. In order to come closer to the common people, some visible steps have to be taken. More ethics training should be provided to inculcate ethical stance. Moral education should be made compulsory at all levels of education starting from primary education to make the future generation free from corruption. There is a need to further expand the activities that are underway to implement the National Cleanliness Strategy in each ministry to prevent corruption by those involved in the administration. It is the need of the hour to take steps to bring every institution, government, private, semi-government, autonomous under this purgatory strategy.

Corruption is hampering overall progress and development. It is not possible for the government or the anti-corruption commission alone to prevent it. Although it is possible to prevent corruption to some extent through creating values at all levels, raising awareness, preventing social degradation and moral education, it is necessary to build a massive social movement. Everyone has to work from their own position. By first declaring oneself corruption-free and then jumping into this social movement, benefits can be reaped on a large scale.

> Some steps to deal with corruption :- 1. Developing and spreading anti-corruption awareness. 2. Building organizations to conduct the movement. 3. Gaining people's support and trust in leadership and organization. 4. Ensuring public participation in anti-corruption organizations. 5. Selection of more effective ways and means of combating corruption taking into account capacity and effectiveness. 6. Verification of public support for the methods and methods adopted and corrections if necessary. 7. Implementation of effective methods and means to combat corruption involving people. 8. Evaluation and sustainability of performance. 9. Promulgate and enforce religious ordinances. 10. Conducting anti-corruption cultural activities. 11. Ensuring the independence of the judiciary. 12. To punish the corrupt. 13. Celebrating Anti Corruption Day. 14. Dissociate or socially boycott the corrupt. 15. Ensure punishment of corrupt officials by employing competent investigators and public prosecutors. 16. Making the Anti-Corruption Commission truly independent and strong.

Finally, to prevent corruption, people should be encouraged to lead a moral life. Behavioral excellence influenced by integrity is what he pursues. He should be loyal to society's black standards, principles and customs. In order to prevent corruption, personal level of duty and honesty, as well as character, is very important. For this, it is necessary to make a commitment to develop anti-corruption as a movement with the existing laws and regulations. In order to effectively implement that commitment, the efforts of the people along with the goodwill of the government are important. Therefore, we think that the ACC has the freedom to fight corruption. Current government ministers or influential political leaders do not seem to be exerting any influence over the ACC.

It is true that no country in the world is 100% free from corruption. But it is more common in our country. Due to increasing corruption, the rule of law is not possible in the country and the people are deprived of justice. But the Prime Minister has started an anti-corruption drive to establish rule of law, justice, good governance - which is welcomed by the countrymenAnd corruption not only disrupts the development of the state but is also a major obstacle to the establishment of justice and good governance. We must get out of this circle. Otherwise, the desired development of the country is not possible. And it is only because of corruption that poverty has descended on us and the development of the country is being seriously hindered.

Hence its immediate eradication is essential. The issue is very important as it is the cause of corruption and some policies have been mentioned to prevent it. The more it is analyzed and discussed the more people will be aware of it and will be able to enjoy its benefits. So whoever is doing the irregularities and corruption should be questioned. Family education and practice of values are also very important to build a corruption free society. It is possible to build a corruption-free society only through the practice of ideals.

Author, organizer, columnist and researcher Founder and Chairman,Jatiya Rogi Kallyan Society.