Corruption in Bangladesh: A Study on the Attitudes of the Civil Servants and the Politicians

Abstract

Corruption is a broad term covering a wide range of misuse of entrusted funds and power for private gain: bribery, theft, fraud, nepotism, abuse of power etc.Corruption is a pervasive and universal phenomenon. It is often argued that it reduces private and public sector efficiency when it enables people to assume positions of power through patronage rather than ability; it distorts the financial and economic environment; and at limit, corruption introduces instability and anarchy into the political process. In the context of Bangladesh corruption is the most formidable reality and a challenge. The vast majority of the people are victims of corruption. Corruption by a limited number of powerful individuals and failure of leadership and institutions to control and prevent corruption should not be considered as evidences to suggest that the country or the nation or the people are most corrupt. The fundamental problem that relates to corruption in Bangladesh is the dominance of the vested interest, irrespective of charge in the political hues in the power matrix. The objective of this study is to understand and assessthe background, causes, extent, nature, types, forms of corruption, consequences, effective ways to combat corruption based on the perceptions of civil servants and thepoliticians in Bangladesh. This study is primarily used as a qualitative perspective, attempting to discern the meaning of events to the participants. Both primary and secondary sources of data are used to get comprehensive picture of the reality. We have contacted with different participants of different levels including present ministers, ex-ministers to gather information and civil servants of both central govt. and local govt. Besides, official records, documents and other secondary sources are utilized. This study demonstrates that the civil servants have by and large become accustomed to live a life style far beyond their legal income. One may ask the question as to why such large-scale administrative corruption exists. The reasons for such corruption can be summed up. First, civil servants involved in corrupt practices in most cases do not lose their jobs. Very rarely they are dismissed from service on charges pertaining to corruption. Still more rarely they are sent to prison for misusing public funds. They have never been compelled to return to the state their ill-gotten wealth. Second, people have a tendency not only to tolerate corruption but to show admiration to those civil servants who make a fortune through dubious means. The underlying assumption is that it does not matter how one has acquired wealth as long as he has done so. Third, it is easier for a citizen to get quick service because he has already paid the civil servant rather than wait for his turn. Fourth, there is now social acceptance of corruption by public officials. Fifth, barring occasional public procurements, the representatives of the people, i.e. politicians in power, are unwilling to take effective measures to curb corrupt practices in public dealings. Therefore, much attention is to be paid to stop corruption in Bangladesh. That this study suggests ways to combat corruption in Bangladesh based on the perception of two significant groups namely the civil servants and the politicians.