World Health Day Observed |
On the occasion of World Health Day, Dhaka YES members organized a two-day satellite
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| Rally and discussion meeting at Muktagachha |
AI-Desk activity at the outdoor premises of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). More than three thousand visitors of which 37 percent were women, received information regarding the ticket, outdoor services fees and free medicine centers. Besides, five thousand leaflets containing significant service information of the Hospital were distributed from the desk. This desk helped the authority to establish accountability in the hospital services manage
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| Rally and discussion meeting at Nalitabari |
ment. A group of TI-chapters representative visited the desk and inspired the YES members for their contribution. Besides, Committees of Concerned Citizens (CCC) located in Muktagachha, Nalitabari, Rajshahi City, Sreemangal, Madhupur observed ‘World Health Day’ through organizing rallies, discussion meetings, satellite AI-desks, quiz competition and speech competition. The programmes were largely attended by CCC and YES members, eminent personalities and community people.
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Anti-corruption Drama staged by YES Group, IBAIS University |
YES group of IBAIS University staged an anti-corruption drama in the cultural programme organized to celebrate the Bengali New Year on 14th April, 2010.
Through the drama the
young performers depicted different irregularities at govt. offices and how corruption in the water and power sector and price hike of regular commodities are greatly affecting the daily lives of common people. Vice Chancellor of the University Khondokar Rezaul Alam inaugurated the programme. Chairman Dr. Zakaria Linkon, YES advisor Sheikh Hafizur Rahman Shajal, Fahmida Haq, teachers from different departments and more than 250 students were present.
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Slogan Campaign in Institute of Social Welfare and Research |
YES Group of Institute of Social Welfare and Research of University of Dhaka carried out a slogan campaign on the occasion of Bengali New Year 1417. They prepared lucrative hand made cards with the slogan “Notun bochhorer shurute ei hok ongeekar, durneetimukto Bangladesh gorbo ebar” (New Year’s Resoluion: Let’s all pledge to make a corruption free Bangladesh) and disseminated these to their teachers, different departments of the university and common people on New Year’s Eve.
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Wall Magazine in Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall |
To observe the Bengali New Year 1417 YES Group of Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall published a colorful wall magazine consisting anti-corruption write-ups. In those write-ups, the members reaffirmed their stand against corruption. The introductory note was written by the YES Adviser Taslima Khan. On 28 April Hall Provost Dr. Gulshan Ara Latifa inaugurated the magazine while YES adviser accompanied her. The wall magazine was placed in the hall premises and caught the attention of many students and teachers.
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Essay Competition in Bangladesh Kuwait Maitree Hall |
Members of the YES Group of Bangladesh Kuwait Maitree Hall organized an essay competition among the students of the hall on 25th April. The topic of the essay was ‘How information can play an effective role in preventing corruption’. The purpose of this competition was to make the students aware about the power and contribution of information in the fight against corruption. About 20 students participated in this competition and expressed their views on the topic provided. The first, second and third position went to Kaniz Fatema, Aklima Begum and Nasreen Khanom respectively.
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| Call for promoting integrity pledge for ensuring accountable and Participatory governance at local level |
Speakers, on 11 April, underscored the need for promotion of integrity pledge as social accountability tool for ensuring accountable and participatory governance at local level.
The international seminar organized by Transparency International Bangladesh titled ‘Integrity Pledge: Participatory Governance through Social Accountability’ was presided over by M. Hafizuddin Khan, Chair, TIB Trustee Board. A total of 22 international participants from 12 TI chapters from Asia, Africa and Europe, including TI Secretariat, Berlin participated in this seminar.
 TIB introduced the Integrity Pledge (IP) that involves voluntary engagement of the local level public representatives, officials, and service providers with the service recipients and other citizens to promote transparency and accountability at the delivery of services in vital sectors such as education, health and local government.
 IP is a voluntary tripartite written commitment where service providers, service recipients and citizens committees- make key pledges that include: prevent and control abuse of power for private gains; eliminate all forms of unauthorized payments, including bribery for services rendered; ensure and promote participation of service recipients in decisions that affect the content and quality of services; ensure transparency in public contracts and implementing work under such contract and promote disclosure and transparency and accountability in all related actions. A total of 18 local institutions, nine each from both education and local government sectors, have so far signed IP, facilitated by TIB-inspired volunteer networks: the Committees of Concerned Citizens and youth volunteers and cultural activists from Youth Engagement and Support (YES).
It may be mentioned here that for the last few years TIB has been using key elements of integrity pledge: such as citizens’ report cards, advice and information desks, participatory budget and face-the-public, which created a conducive climate for signing of the integrity pledge with the respective authorities for ensuring quality public services at the local level.
 Professor Muzaffer Ahmad, a TIB Trustee, Dr. Alauddin Ahmed, Advisor to the Honourable Prime Minister for Education, Social Development and Political Affairs spoke to the seminar. Professor Salahuddin M. Aminuzzaman of Dhaka University commented on the seminar paper, coauthored by Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director and M. Sajjad Hussein, Senior Programme Manager, TIB. Members of Parliament Alhaj Momtaz Begum, Ashraf Ali Khan, Nilufar Chowdhury, Zobeda Khatun, Shammi Akhter also spoke while TI Zambia Executive Director Goodwell Lungo, TI Indonesia Secretary General Teten Masduki, TI Senior Advisor Hansjörg Elshorst also participated during the discussion.
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| TIB concerned over the amendment of ACC act, 2004 |
Among many electoral commitments of the Government relevant to the strengthening of the Institutional capacity to promote good governance and to fight corruption is the pledge to make the ACC independent and effective. According to this, some proposals are finalized by the cabinet committee. But the proposals are not consistent with the commitments of the Government. nor with the objectives of the Cabinet Committee. TIB therefore, submit some specific policy recommendations for consideration of the Honourable Prime Minister, her distinguished colleagues in the Cabinet and others concerned on 26th April, 2010. Significant among those are:
Corruption in all sectors must be within the jurisdiction of the ACC. Exclusion of any particular sector, especially the public service will be discriminatory and counter-productive to the objective of making corruption a punishable offence.
The proposal to make the Commission accountable to the President would not meet the objective of accountability. The ACC should rather be made accountable to a Judicial Committee of the Supreme Court. Alternately, the ACC could be reportable to a Parliamentary Committee composed of one member each of all parties represented in the Parliament, provided that such members are known for highest levels of credibility, integrity and honesty.
The Secretary of the Commission must be appointed by the Commission, not by the Government, and the status of the Secretary must not be upgraded, nor can he be given the status of Chief Accounts Officer.
The proposal to introduce a new clause to provide for upto five years imprisonment for ill-motivated cases will work as a deterrent against taking action against corrupt activity. In view of the fact that such offences are in any case subject to legal action under conventional law, introduction of a specific provision in case of the ACC will only damage the prospect of making corruption a punishable offence.
Article 30 of the Anticorruption Act 2004 must be reviewed. The Commission must have the power to determine its own organizational structure; it must be able to hire its own staff at all levels.
Section 25 of the ACC Act 2004 must be reviewed to provide full authority to the Commission to be able to use its budget independently without interference from the government.
Article 36 of the ACC Act 2004 should be amended to prevent possible omnibus intervention by the Government in the affairs of the Commission;
ACC is one of the many institutions of the national integrity system (NIS) that collectively builds capacities for effective control of corruption. ACC cannot deliver effective corruption control all by itself. The higher is the level of integrity, efficiency and professionalism of institutions like the judiciary, police and other law-enforcement institutions, public service, private sector, public procurement system and the media, the better will be the effectiveness of the ACC.
The political will must be sustained and enforced, without any fear or favour; and political support and backing must be across the partisan political divide. |
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The Committee of Concerned Citizens of Pirojpur has been reformed with 11 members. In this committee, academician Hussne Ara Begum Maya taken the charge of convener while Freedom Fighter-Journalist Ataye Rabbani Firuj and teacher & Girl Guide Personality Rama Rani Shaha are the co-conveners. Besides, eight sub committees were formed relating to different activities of CCC on YES, AI-desk and Gender issue.
YES group of CCC Chittagong staged an anti-corruption drama titled ‘A kemon Bichar’ (do you call this justice?) on 17 April. The performance of theatre group members revealed true picture of corruption in various sectors.
YES group of CCC Pirojpur organized a five-day satellite AI-Desk activity in the Boishakhi fair held in the premises of central Martyrs Monument of Pirujpur. CCC Jhalakhati celebrated the day by organizing a rally. After the rally they gathered to reaffirm their commitment to carry forward the anti-corruption movement. Besides, CCC Comilla organized
 discussion meeting and cultural programme while YES group of CCC Jessore carried out anti-corruption campaign through signature collection and distributed New Year Greeting leaflet and paper made cap among the children.
TIB took part in Tsangrain, the main festival of Marma Community and 11 other ethnic groups in Bandarban to celebrate  the New Year during 12-15 April. This water festival is celebrated as it is their main religious and social festival. In association with the Festival Organizing Committee TIB organized prizes for competition of art, quiz and traditional dress as you like among the children. TIB took part in the grand rally with the anti-corruption banner  and during the water splashing and cultural programme T-shirts, printed with anti-corruption messages, were distributed  among participants. The spraying and splashing of water on each other is a sign of washing away the sorrows, ailments and sins of the previous year and heralding a fresh beginning of another year. The Member of Parliament Bir Bahadur USwasing inaugurated the programme as the chief guest. Besides, about eight hundred students and teachers of Bandaban govt. High School and Shangu  High School took anti-corruption oath. Anti-corruption Cartoon books and Stickers were distributed among the students.
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