Dr. Muhammad Mahtab Hossain Mazed

Today Saturday 9 December is the 21st International Anti-Corruption Day 2023. This year, the theme of the day is 'We are united against corruption for the purpose of development, peace and security'. On the occasion of the day, the Anti-Corruption Commission wants to send a big message against the corrupt.

As always, the International Anti-Corruption Day will be celebrated on a large scale in 8 divisions, 64 districts and 495 upazilas of the country, including the capital Dhaka.

At the same time, various anti-corruption programs have been organized in all city corporations, municipalities, districts, upazilas and union parishads, government-semi-government and autonomous institutions and PKSF and other NGOs in the country.

Which includes anti-corruption cartoon exhibitions, human chains, seminars and discussion meetings across the country. Where administration officials, prominent people of society, social organizations, anti-corruption committee and general public will participate.

The United Nations declared December 9 as the International Anti-Corruption Day in 2003. Accordingly, this is the 21st International Anti-Corruption Day. The United Nations is conducting anti-corruption activities through the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) with the aim of uniting the whole world against corruption.

Bangladesh, as a member state of ANCAK, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) started observing International Anti-Corruption Day in 2007. Although the day is being celebrated officially since 2017.
At present, corruption has spread like poisonous vapor in the pores of the society. Human civilization is endangered today by totalitarian corruption. The current society is plagued by the death knell of this social disease of apocalypse. From the highest administration to the country's politics, economy, social policy, education policy, culture, industry and trade, corruption is going on everywhere. Therefore, experts identify corruption as one of the major obstacles to national development.

Corruption in the literal sense is unethical, unethical, misconduct, using dishonest means, earning money by dishonest means, unethical behavior etc. And the meaning of prevention is - prevention, prevention, hindrance, hindrance, detention, disturbance. Although the word is very short in lexical sense, its meaning is vast. Corruption cannot be pinned down to any specific definition. Scholars have interpreted corruption in various ways. Types of corruption are multifaceted and diverse in nature. Hence its specification is a complex task. Corruption is a type of crime that involves abuse of power, abuse of privileges. In general terms, corruption refers to neglect of duty, abuse of power, accepting bribes or seeking the ulterior interests of a particular group.

Disunity, violence, factionalism, strife, selfishness, mistrust and extreme corruption prevail in the social life of Bangladesh. Corruption today prevails in all spheres of politics, administration, economy, society, religion and personal life. Even educational institutions are not left out.

A corruption free society is desired by all. Corruption frustrates development plans and tends to use public resources for personal gain. Those who wield influence in corruption and various crimes do not acknowledge that influence. No policy and so-called social boycott will change this corrupt situation. Crime patterns have changed in the present era. Over the past few years, the administration has not even touched a hair of some of the companies that have been doing things wrong with VoIP.

These corruption and criminal activities have the support of educated, influential people from the upper echelons of the society. With their help, criminals remain undetected. More than half of those convicted by the Anti-Corruption Commission remain out of touch with society. The defendants in the case include politicians, bureaucrats, businessmen and their family members. After scrutinizing various complaints in the first 9 months of this year (till September) under the supervision of ACC, 303 complaints were decided to be investigated. At that time only 196 cases were registered. But within 9 months, 559 complaints were settled by termination or discharge of complaint. Which is almost double considering the statistics of 11 months of 2022 and 2021. At the same time, the charge sheet of 247 cases has been filed in the court. On the other hand, 55 cases were disposed of through FRT (Exemption from Case) without charge sheet.

In the 11 months from January to November 2022 and 2021, 312 and 244 complaints were disposed of or registered (discharged). In other words, the ACC investigation department did not find corruption in those allegationsThe investigation showed that in the 11 months from January to November 2022, the ACC took 354 complaints into consideration for investigation after scrutinizing various complaints. 276 cases were filed on those charges. During that time 312 complaints were closed or registered (discharged). ACC gave charge sheet of 162 cases. Accused have been acquitted in 78 cases.

Earlier, the commission had decided to investigate 326 corruption complaints from January to November 2021. At the same time, 311 cases of corruption were registered. During that time 244 complaints were closed or registered (discharged). At the end of the investigation, a charge sheet of 222 cases was filed. FRT (Exemption from Prosecution) took place in 80 cases.

In the first 9 months of this year (up to September), after scrutinizing various complaints, 303 complaints were decided to be investigated. At that time only 196 cases were registered. But within 9 months, 559 complaints were settled by termination or discharge of complaint. Which is almost double considering the statistics of 11 months of 2022 and 2021. And in the last three years, the ACC could not provide a significant number of arrests of accused in corruption cases. The commission, headed by former ACC chairman Iqbal Mahmud, set the precedent of arresting an average of over a hundred convicts every year for five years. However, in the last 19 years, the capacity of the ACC has increased in various aspects, but the anti-corruption activities have not increased in comparison.

Secretary of the organization in general. Mahbub Hossain said that the Anti-Corruption Commission is conducted according to the law and rules based on specific complaints. It is not only possible for the Commission alone to fight and prevent corruption, it is necessary to build public opinion against corruption. All classes of people should be involved by raising awareness against corruption.

Meanwhile, 374 people have been accused in 196 cases filed in the last 9 months of this year (from January to September) for involvement in corruption and irregularities. There are 187 government officials-employees in the list but there are 10 politicians and public representatives. Besides, 70 private employees, 30 businessmen and 76 people from other professions have been accused by the ACC.

On the other hand, 1 thousand 124 people were accused in 242 charge sheets filed in the last 9 months. 689 of them are government employees. 189 private officials-employees, 81 businessmen, 61 politicians and 9 public representatives and 97 persons from other professions are accused in the complaint filed.

who are actually involved in high-level corruption; Especially those who are politically and administratively powerful, called Rui-Katla. ACC is not seen to take effective action in their case. They are basically picking on those who are lazy. ACC is now politically controlled, influenced. Those who are powerful don't dare to catch up. ACC has steadily moved into administrative control. Basically, the decision-making process is less in the hands of the commission than in the hands of the administration. ACC has to come out of all influence to fight corruption in the country.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the Bengali nation, deeply felt the history of discrimination and deprivation of Bengalis and fought for their liberation throughout his life. In the establishment of Sonar Bangla, he realized the disharmony of the society and warned, "The peace-loving people of Bangladesh will stand against all anti-social activities and corruption". He also said, "The government will not hesitate to take strict action against anti-social persons who are harassing peaceful citizens and who are obstructing the establishment of peace and order in the country". Bangabandhu urged the countrymen to come forward with great courage against all the inactions of the society.

According to economists, development and corruption are closely related. When a country moves from poverty to economic development, there can be rampant corruption in that countryCorruption is very much a companion of development. In other words, when a country or a town is in the process of development, then there is corruption at various levels. If the government and regulatory agencies can take tough measures against corruption and fight corruption with unquestionable political commitment, then corruption can be kept under control.

No country in the world has been able to reduce corruption to zero. There is corruption in developed countries but it is limited or at a tolerable level. So corruption is not a major problem in those countries. However, the spread of corruption on a large scale cannot be justified in any society. Rapid development and rampant corruption are also not desirableWhen a very poor country embarks on the highway of economic development, there is bound to be corruption. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's announcement of zero tolerance policy against corruption will be helpful in taking Bangladesh to the desired goal of preventing corruption. He said, "If the country is to be poverty-free, the administration must be corruption-free and ensure good governance." He also declared zero tolerance against corruption like terrorism and militancy In recent times, no one has been spared by some corrupt members of the government party. Legal action has been taken against all. He has started a cleansing campaign from within the party. Such incidents are rare in the history of Bangladesh.

The economic progress Bangladesh has achieved since independence is, in a word, astonishing. Bangladesh has been achieving consistent GDP growth for the past few years. By 2032, Bangladesh will be one of the 25 largest economies in the world. Then Bangladesh will be the 24th largest economy. Bangladesh has surpassed many neighboring countries in various social indicators.

Corruption is the main obstacle to development. This corruption is a threat to business, social equality and democracy. A concerted effort of people from all walks of life is needed to remove these obstacles to development. Social movement should be built against this. Today, Bangladesh is known as a role model of development in the world. The economic development of this country is balanced. Regionalism or any other segmentation is not given the least importance in economic management. But unfortunately, the truth is that corruption is coming forward as the main obstacle to the development of Bangladesh today.

Anti-corruption Commission is the institution implementing the mission to prevent corruption in BangladeshThe main objective of this commission is to ensure the practice and spread of a strong anti-corruption culture at all levels of society and to develop good practices. There are several laws and regulations to prevent corruption in Bangladesh. Anti-Corruption Commission Rules-2007 Amendment, Prevention of Money Laundering Rules- 2019, Evidence Act- 1872, Criminal Law Amendment Act- 1958, Penal Code- 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure (CRPC)- 1898, Prevention of Corruption Act- 1947, Prevention of Money Laundering Act- 2012, Anti-Corruption Commission Act- 2004 and informationDeregulation Policy – 2011 etc.The commission has taken a five-year (2017-2021) strategic action plan for the development of good practices and to inculcate the sense of honesty and loyalty in the society with the aim of curbing and preventing corruption. With a view to immediate prevention of corruption, the Commission launched the ACC Complaint Center Hotline-106 on July 27, 2017, which has now become a platform for complaints and redressal by common people of the country.

Looking at a person's socio-economic status, mindset, education and attitudes and environment can provide a lot of information to find the answer to why people commit corruption. Corruption originates and spreads in the interplay between the individual and the society. Therefore, by uncovering what factors act as moderators of corruption at the individual and social level, they can be identified as the causes of corruption. For example-1. Historical reasons, 2. Increase in the value of money, 3. Inadequate salary, 4. Flaws in the political system, 5. Lack of strong measures to eradicate crime, 6. Lack of public awareness about the law, 7. Tendency to determine social status in terms of money, 8. Personal greed-lust and 9. Lack of religious education.

Some emphasize religious education and collective resistance of the people to build a corruption-free society. In fact, to remedy, prevent and correct corruption, effective social policies and programs should be adopted, laws should be formulated and implemented, and public opinion should be developed. And to build this prevention system, the following steps can be taken into consideration - such as: Making people aware of corruption through educational strategies, various demonstration programs, literature and drama, slogans, marches, radio-TV, films, anti-corruption posters and newspapers. Campaign should be carried out.Below are some more 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 considering capacity and effectiveness. 6. Public support for the methods and approaches 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.

To conclude, corruption is a social disease and a fatal curse to society and civilization. It is only because of corruption that poverty has descended upon us and the development of the country is severely hampered. 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, columnist and researcher Founder and Chairman,Jatiya Rogi Kalyan Society