TI's Corruption Perceptions Index and Bangladesh - contributions to the email debate 1:

'I would be interested to know just how "corruption" is/was defined for the three CPI surveys for available for Bangladesh or, for that matter, CPI surveys from other countries.

'In particular: does/did "corruption" as defined for the CPI survey purposes also include extortionist practices?'

'What [the above contributor] asked about the definition of corruption is a very basic one. If corruption is not defined as the same meaning for all the countries, the result just can't be fair. And it is obvious the people of Bangladesh have to be cautious about corruption. We can't rely on our government, what side may form it. We experienced it in the past. So its the common people who should be sincere in their duties and in their works.'

'In the opening remarks, great play was made about the position in the league table.

'I think that it does not matter if Bangladesh is bottom or four from the bottom, two wrongs do not make a right. The problem is serious and needs addressing, everyone knows that. it would be the same if Bangladesh were halfway up a meaningless table. The problems are internal, and result in a lack of private investment from outside. This is a reflection on the actuality, not the position in a league table.'

'I feel that [the contribution above] really hits the nail on the head. Why are we so concerned about fine tuning the exact location on the table when nobody denies that we really are really really corrupt? Is there any possible interpretation of the data that would imply otherwise? If not the debate of statistics professors amounts to little more than re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic.'

'Harun Baul reveals discourses on the contemporary issues of Bangladesh (pl. see I AM HARUN BAUL SPEAKING in www.bangladesh-web.com/news (dated Aug 10 2001 in the 'Feature' section and the earlier ones)). He believes that it may be useless debating on how TI measured corruption in Bangladesh. To control corruption in Bangladesh is not possible unless the outsiders cease to facilitate corruption in Bangladesh. As it is now, eradication of corruption from the country is equally impossible as is the case of eradication of poverty.

'Corruption by some of the insider Bangladeshi will persist in some extent as part of culture of the country; and that is beneficial for the socio-economic and environmental sustainability.

'Can TI help eradicate the corruptions of the outsiders? If not, Harun Baul should be venerated.'

Click here for more contributions to the email debate.

• Click here for fuller details of the CPI
  
  
• Click here for a statement by TIB's Chairman made on 3 July 2001
  
  
• Click here for press coverage of the CPI in Bangladesh