Corruption and its Dimension Ways of preventing it

1. Corruption and its Dimension
Ways of preventing it
Dr. Md. Shamsul Arefin
Secretary, ACC
SAED, BPATC
19-12-2017
Dr. Md. Shamsul Arefin

2. Mandate for Prevention of Corruption
( Under Section 17 of ACC Act 2004)
a.Review the legally accepted measures for preventing corruption
and submit recommendations to the Hon,ble President their
effective implementation.
b.Carry out research on the prevention of corruption
c.Promote the values of honesty and integrity in order to
prevent corruption. Take measures to build up mass awareness
against corruption.
d. Arrange seminars, symposiums, workshops etc. to prevent
corruption
e. Identify the sources of different types of corruption existing in
Bangladesh
f. Perform any other work considered necessary for the
prevention of corruption.
Dr. Md. Shamsul Arefin

3. Institutional Framework for Corruption Prevention
Staff strength 1073
ACC HQ
Divisional
Office (6)
Metro
Regional
CPC (9)
District CPC
(62)
Sub-District
CPC (420)
Communit
y
School /
College
IUs (20885)
Integrated
District Office (22)
Dr. Md. Shamsul Arefin

4. Compulsion of UNCAC
 Bangladesh ratified UNCAC in 27 Feb, 2007
 The Convention visualizes both taking preventive measures
against corruption and creating an enabling environment for
ensuring integrity in conducting public affairs.
 Promote and strengthen measures to prevent and combat
corruption more efficiently and effectively and to
promote integrity, accountability in society
Dr. Md. Shamsul Arefin

5. Dr. Md. Shamsul Arefin
Compulsion of UNCAC (Chapter II)
Article 6 (b) -Increasing and disseminating knowledge about the prevention of
corruption.
Article 5.
2. Each State Party shall endeavour to establish and promote effective
practices aimed at the prevention of corruption.
3. Each State Party shall endeavour to periodically evaluate relevant legal
instruments and administrative measures with a view to determining their
adequacy to prevent and fight corruption.
Article -8
4. Each State Party shall also consider, establishing measures and systems to
facilitate the reporting by public officials of acts of corruption to appropriate
Authorities (ACC) , when such acts come to their notice in the performance
of their functions.

6. Existing Administrative Culture and Aims of NIS
 We have created a culture of shifting responsibility in some cases
But NIS teaches us to shouldering responsibility
 We have created an administrative centric culture
But NIS teaches us to start service in citizen’s centric culture
 We have created a culture of using discretion in most cases.
NIS teaches us to minimize of using discretion
 We have created a culture of Financial Management that does not
follow time limit in most cases.
NIS teaches us to follow strict time limit for releasing of fund.
Our gray areas are employment, procurement, construction etc
NIS teaches us how to erase gray areas

7. Responsibility of the ACC
under National Integrity Strategy (NIS)
 Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is the most
important organization for a relentless fight against
corruption and promotion of integrity in the society.(C.2.9.1,
page 34 of NIS document)
 Formulation of action plan for mobilizing citizens’
support for prevention of corruption (C 2.9.3 of NIS)
 Improvement of communication between the ACC and
other state organizations (2.9.4 Action Plan of NIS)
Dr. Md. Shamsul Arefin

8. Responsibility of the ACC
under National Integrity Strategy
 Undertaking initiatives for raising awareness among
government organizations, businesses, civil society
and media on prevention of corruption. (2.9.4 Action Plan
of NIS)
 Formation of National Integrity Unit and ‘Ethics
Committees’ by the Cabinet Division where necessary
support will be provided by ACC. (2.9.4 Action Plan of
NIS)
Dr. Md. Shamsul Arefin

9. The stakes of Corruption Prevention
Integrity
Promote a culture of collaboration
 Foster and protect whistleblowers
Transparency
 Publicise information
 Is the information accessible?
Accountability
 More effective and efficient controls
 Social Accountability tools
Participation
 Involve Civil Society and others (e.g.
Report Cards, Integrity Pacts) CP
Risk
Assessme
nt
Effective
Ethics
Committee
Implement
code of
conduct
Minimise
conflict of
Interest
Dr. Md. Shamsul Arefin

10. January 4, 2018Dr. Md. Shamsul Arefin
10
Role of Civil Servants
 Use minimum or no discretion (The exercise of
individual judgment, instead of formal rules, in making decisions is discretion.)
 Create perfect competitions
 Open Integrity unit
 Maintain Transparency
 Ensure Accountability
 Ensure Rule of law
 Ensure Good governance
 Follow a person who is a Role Model to you
 Try to be a Role Model to others

11. Priority Areas for Improving Collaboration between ACC
and State Organizations
 Strengthening Reporting systems
 strengthening Reporting of fraud detection and corrupt practice
under NIS action plan.
Improving front-Line Service Provision
Instituting citizen report cards and monitoring
 Regular Public hearing and strengthening oversight
Strengthening Leadership & Ethics
 Continuously arranging Workshop, Seminars and Trainings
with NIS Focal Points.
Dr. Md. Shamsul Arefin

12. Best Practices of International aspects
Botswana Case Study
NIS Focal Points have been working as Role Models to influence others
in their organizations to maintain ethical standards. They are
influencing people everyday by their ethics.
 Ministries/ Divisions are limited only to formulate policy and plan
and instruct Directorates to implement plan and monitor those plan,
projects.
Ministries/Divisions do not manage events like different day
observances. They outsource it to Event Management Company so that
their regular functions can not be hampered.
 Ministries/Divisions do not engage with posting and transfer except a
very few cases.
 They release Revenue and Development fund first day of the relevant
Quarters without delay of a single day.
Ministry officials exercise delegated authority
Dr. Md. Shamsul Arefin

13. Civil Society Monitoring for Improved Service Provision:
Bangalore, India. ( By arranging public hearings in 2011)
Source : Public Affairs Center, India , 2013
Dr. Md. Shamsul Arefin

14. Strengthening Public Service Ethics in Singapore
5 Cs to Prevent Corruption
Strengthen
Values & Ethics:
To prevent
Corruption
Strengthen
Values & Ethics:
To prevent
Corruption
Commitment to
Contribute
Commitment to
Contribute
ConnectednessConnectedness
Courage Building
mechanism
Courage Building
mechanism
CosmologyCosmology
Care & CompassionCare & Compassion
Overcoming insecurity
Creating a sense of
belonging to society Creating a sense of
Compassion and caring for the
more needy in society
Creating a commitment to public
service
Broaden vision by seeing
life in the context of
the huge universe
Dr. Md. Shamsul Arefin

15. Anticipated Role of Civil Servants
 Reduction of discretionary Authority of Public Officers.
 Redesigning the Financial management (delegated administrative and
financial authority must be followed strictly).
 Fund release in due time in development and revenue budget.
 Fixing responsibility as per law in all levels including the Accounts
Department, Registration and Land Administration Department.
 Regular RTI Fair by each public office.
 Regular arrangement of public hearing at the public office.
 Using CRC
 Using Feedback form
 Using Whistle Blower’s Protection act at the public office.
 A Booklet of Model case issued by each public office depending on their
nature of public service.
 Integrity pledge.
 Redesigning business flow chart ( one stop service)
 Code of conduct

16. Approaches you may put in your
Action Plan
a.Redesigning Business flow Chart
b.Shorten Business Process ( One stop Service)
c.Develop a Evaluation Form for your customer
(Are you satisfied , if not why please comment)
d. Code of conduct
e. Integrity pledge
f. Using social accountability tools and GRS

17. Approaches you may put in your Action Plan
 Redesigning in the Financial management (delegated administrative
and financial authority may be followed strictly).
 Releasing Fund on 1st
day of concerned quarters in development and
revenue budget.
 Regular RTI Fair by each public office.
 Regular arrangement of public hearing at the public office.
 Using CRC
 Using Feedback form
 Using Whistle Blower’s Protection Act at the public office.
 A Booklet of Model case issued by each public office depending on
their nature of public service.

18. Approaches you may start discussion for
Authorization
a.Remodeling Contract Rule/Procurement Act
b.Establishing more Independent Employment Commissions for all
kind of revenue posts
c.Redesigning Financial Regulation to control under and over
invoicing, regulate curb market and bank loan disbursement
d.Fixing and practicing reasonable time period in laws for dispensing
of justice and enquiry
e. Protection of budgetary allocation
f. Reduction of discretionary Authority of Public Officers.
g.Fixing responsibility as per law in all levels including the
Accounts department, Registration and Land Administration.

19. Start Dialogue under NIS Action plan
Denmark Case study
1.Separate Estimators from the Executors of construction project.
2.Give responsibility of repair and maintenance work (without any
extra claim) for next ten years to the contractors who completed the
initial construction. ( incorporate that provision in the contract
provision).
3.Make liable Accounts office 75% of financial irregularities and
rest 25% to the drawer of bills.
4.Start dialogue for changing the existing provisions for the issuance
of passport .
5.Start dialogue for the smart land administration under NIS

20. How to tackle corruption in Bangladesh
1. Developing long-term anti-corruption strategy
2. Creating citizen’s will
3. Effective decentralisation of government agency
4. Create a sense of hate about corruption
5. More transparency and more simplification of
procedures
6. Incentives for good performance
7. Awareness and Motivational programme
January 4, 2018Dr. Md. Shamsul Arefin
20

21. Looking Forward
The ACC intends to adopt the demand side approach to citizen’s centric
governance reform empowering citizens to monitor, audit and report on the
performance of public agencies.
Stimulate society to move from a culture of acceptance of corruption to
rejection of corruption.
Minimize Conflict of Interests.
The motivation to earn easy way income is still extremely strong. Thus a Role Model is
required in each office who will act as a living legend of Ethics.
Show zero tolerance to rent seeking behavior.
Comprehensive regulation is needed because the discretion of many public officials is
unrestricted and this systemic weakness is intensified by poorly defined, ever changing, and
poorly disseminated rules and regulations.
Dr. Md. Shamsul Arefin

22. Dr. Md. Shamsul Arefin