Transparency International
Bangladesh
Measuring Corruption in Bangladesh:
Can Communication Work?
Iftekhar Zaman
Executive Director
Transparency International Bangladesh
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Presented at the DAC Heads of Information Conference 2006 on
“The Aid Agenda: Corruption, Governance & Aid Effectiveness –
Communicating the Big Issues”.
Canberra, 17-19 May 2006.
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Transparency International
Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Remarkable Social Progress
• Steady economic growth (5-6 %) since 1990s
• Decline in population growth (2.5 in 80s to 1.7 in 19902004)
• Primary education enrollment from 72% in 1980 to 98%
in 2001
• Infant mortality from 145 in 1970 to 46 in 2003 per 1000
live births
• Child mortality from 239 to 69 per 1000 during the same
• Share of population in poverty from 59 in 1990 to 50% in
2000
• Food security markedly increased – near self-sufficiency
• All these gains achieved despite widely acknowledged
governance failures
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Corruption – the key problem
• Corruption – a global challenge
• More than bribery - Abuse of power for private gain
- power in the government & outside; economic,
political and social power.
• Increases poverty and injustice
• Prevents development and rule of law
• Undermines democracy and governance
• Distorts market and stifles economic growth
• Breeds crimes, social frustration, discontent and
insecurity
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Bangladesh
CORRUPTION: Bias against the poor
• Corruption - a key challenge against development in Bangladesh,
and a major political issue
• More than Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) - acknowledged
across political spectrum
• Opportunity Cost – about 3 percent higher growth was possible
– Diverts investment and discourages development partnership exclusion of Bangladesh from US MCA attributed to corruption.
– 75% of more than $35 billion received since independence have
been estimated to have been lost for corruption
• The poor are directly affected - access to essential services such
as education, health, justice and individual safety has become a
function of the capacity to make unauthorized payments.
• Main impediment to meeting the PRS and MDG.
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Bangladesh
Corruption: Preventing access to education
Corruption in Education: Ratio of Service Receipients Forced to Pay Bribe
Percentage
54.1
35.5
32.5
21.8
for admission in school
to be enlisted for
stipend in primary level
to be enlisted for
stipend in secondary
level
for actual disbursement
of the stipend
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Bangladesh
Corruption: Preventing access to health service
C or r upt i on i n H e a l t h : R a t i o of S e r v i c e R e c e i pi e nt s
For c e d t o P a y B r i be
Percentage
54.8
29.3
f or outdoor treatment
f or operation/xray/pathological test
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Bangladesh
Corruption: Preventing law enforcement
Corruption in Police: Ratio of Service Receipients Forced to Pay Bribe
77.7
79.2
Percentage
60.6
for FIR/GD or any other
complain
for police clearance
to avoid arrest
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Bangladesh
Household Income lost to bribery
12
10
9.529
Percentage
7.94
8
4.569
6
4
2.384
2
0
Low Income (< Tk.
72,000 per year)
Middle Income
(72000-140,000)
High Income
(140,000+)
Total
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Bangladesh
FIGHTING CORRUPTION
The key challenge – linkage with power.
• Complete eradication of corruption is not
a realistic proposition.
• Strengthening of key institutions – the
national integrity system is the
prerequisite backed by highest level
political will and preparedness to act
without fear or favour.
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Bangladesh
The National Integrity System
a) Parliament – Standing Committees
b) Central Role of the Executive
c) Neutral and non-political public service commission
– Public Service Code of Ethics - Accountability,
Rigorously practiced Conflict of Interest policy
d) Transparent & Competitive Public Procurement
e) High Standards in Financial Management
f) Competitive and Socially Responsible Private
Corporate Sector
g) Independent Judiciary
h) Professional Law Enforcement Institutions - Police
h) The Auditor General
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Bangladesh
i)
j)
k)
l)
m)
n)
o)
Independent Anti-Corruption Institution, laws –
effectiveness & enforcement
Empowered local government
Independent Election Commission capable of
delivering free and fair election
An Independent and Free Media - Access to
Information
The Ombudsman
The Civil Society – citizen’s voice and citizen’s
movement
International Actors and Mechanisms – UN
Convention
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TI-Bangladesh: Creating Demand by
Measuring Corruption – Does it Work?
• Household surveys
• Diagnostic Studies
• National Integrity System Monitoring
–ParliamentWatch, CourtWatch
• Report Cards – citizen’s response
• Corruption Database
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Measuring Corruption - Does it Work?
Research-Plus
– Work with the Government for policy
reform and institutional change
– Dissemination for awareness and
opinion building through media
campaign – TVC, adverts, billboards, posters, stickers, etc.
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Engage Citizens
Committees of Concerned Citizens (CCCs)
• Lead public awareness & participation
campaign
– Seminars, workshops, rallies, roundtables, specific
events/days
• Inform and advise the public
• Engage public officials & representatives in
motivational and specific action-oriented
activities
• Creating “Islands of Integrity” - Report Cards
as tools
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Build Constituencies
• Working with media, CSO/NGOs,
development partners
• Memberships, Friends, Fellowships,
Internships
• Engaging the youth - volunteers
groups, theatre & other cultural groups;
students for civic education.
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Bangladesh
In Lieu of a Conclusion
• To fight corruption requires highest level
political commitment for courageous
action without fear or favour.
• Where the political commitment is weak,
and institutions are not functioning
independently and effectively – create
demand: inform, communicate and
campaign for a social movement.
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Bangladesh
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