Root out corruption from society and state

The term "corruption" was first coined by philosopher Aristotle. Later, political science professor Morris defined it as the illegal use of state power for personal gain. It can be said that corruption has existed since the very inception of the state. Over the centuries, various nations and states have witnessed different forms of corruption. The concept of corruption carries diverse social, political, philosophical, and religious meanings. Today, the term is universally recognized. Even a schoolchild in Bangladesh is likely familiar with the different types of corruption and their implications.

This is because corruption is deeply entrenched in both our society and state. According to the global rankings by Transparency International, Bangladesh ranked 10th in terms of corruption in 2023, placing it among the most corrupt countries in the world. Bangladesh has even earned the "champion" title for corruption several times in the past. While there may appear to be a slight reduction in corruption in 2023, the pervasive web of corruption continues to infiltrate every corner of society.

During the previous Awami League government, corruption had a stranglehold on the very core of society and the state, to the point that even the Anti-Corruption Commission became mired in corruption. After the popular uprising, public corruption significantly decreased, but this came with the downside of a slowdown in progress. A report on Wednesday (December 25) revealed that, according to former advisor to the caretaker government, Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman, while public corruption has diminished since July and August, the pace of work has also decreased. He pointed out that there is a shortage in public administration and that the entire system is trapped in a broker system (the practice of middlemen).

This indicates that work cannot be accomplished in this state without corruption—our public administration has become so tainted. During a discussion on public administration, organized by the Center for Governance Studies (CGS) at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka, he further stated that Bangladesh stands on the desire for change. Therefore, large-scale reforms are necessary.

Now, everyone is talking about reforms, but the people still have no clear idea about where and how these reforms will take place. Six reform commissions are working in their own way, but who will cleanse the values in the nation that have been corrupted? How will this be done? Is it really possible to achieve this solely through reforms?

It is undoubtedly true that most corruption stems from the political influence and lack of law and order, but a nation’s people should also have some core ideals and values—where are these principles in our country? How is it acceptable for an administration to become corrupt when given the opportunity, and when no opportunity arises, it becomes inactive? How can this be justified? Can any sociological study explain this phenomenon?

We have witnessed that, since the country’s independence, our civil servants have been largely corrupted. During the previous Awami League government, this issue increased significantly. Now, various reforms are being introduced, and we commend them; however, to eradicate the pervasive corruption entrenched in the very foundation of our society and state, there must be an improvement in our ethical standards. For this, patriotism and love for humanity are essential.

It is true that "the thief doesn't listen to the sermon," so there is a need for law and courts as well. The judicial system must be strengthened. It is also true that much corruption occurs primarily due to administrative mismanagement. Therefore, a well-managed public administration is essential, which will systematically reduce corruption. Decentralization and accountability are key. Although the need for decentralization in our public administration has been discussed for a long time, we have yet to see any tangible results.

We hope that the current government, through the reform commissions, will play a role in decentralization. Furthermore, whoever comes to power after this should also focus on the eradication of corruption. Corruption has permeated our society so deeply that it may not be eradicated in a short period. Therefore, instead of making false promises, the government should take long-term measures to eliminate corruption from society and the state.