Govt's anti-corruption steps welcomed, but ministers' remarks worrying: TIB

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has welcomed recent initiatives by the government to curb corruption but expressed concern over remarks made by several ministers, saying such statements could undermine the broader anti-corruption drive.

Speaking at an event, TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said the head of the new government had taken several pledges and steps that demonstrated a commitment to strengthening governance and creating the possibility of preventing corruption.

"The head of the new government has made several declarations, commitments and taken steps which have shown the capacity to fulfil people's expectations of creating the possibility of preventing corruption and establishing good governance. This cannot be denied; rather, we welcome it and hope that this trend will continue," he said.

However, he noted, "But at the same time, many members of the new government's cabinet have already made different statements in the media which effectively declare a position in favour of corruption. While some issues have created hope among people, we are also seeing examples that are worrying."

He added that when a minister talks about giving legitimacy to extortion, or when controversial situations arise regarding the appointment of the governor of Bangladesh Bank, or when questions are raised over issues such as the removal of assistant commissioners of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), it raises serious concerns.

"Given the current situation, there is a lot of potential, but there are also many risks. We want to draw attention to a number of issues. It will not be enough for the government to simply declare an anti-corruption stance to the nation; it must also convey the message to its own party, its organisational structures and its cabinet," he said.

He added that the government must ensure the message is communicated across all sectors connected to the administration.

Commenting on the appointment of the new central bank governor, Iftekharuzzaman said questions had arisen regarding possible conflicts of interest.

"Whoever has been appointed as governor, regardless of the process, there will be a conflict of interest if the person is seen as affiliated with a particular group. In that case, Bangladesh Bank may be deprived of the opportunity to perform its role as a regulatory authority," he said.

"For that reason, handing over the leadership of Bangladesh Bank in this manner for the next five years cannot be acceptable under any circumstances. If there is any conspiracy behind this to benefit a particular group, it raises even more serious questions. The government should investigate the matter impartially and take appropriate action," he added.

He further said that the names and institutions being mentioned in connection with the governor had already sparked public concern.

"If, through such initiatives, individuals or institutions who are responsible for large-scale plundering of the country's resources are brought back into positions of authority, it will not be beneficial for the state under any circumstances," he said.

Urging the government to reconsider the matter, he said the authorities should give special importance to the issue and take steps to cancel the current appointment and initiate a fresh process for appointing a new governor of Bangladesh Bank.