Bangladesh: Good Governance Program

Public sector management / Public administration

The corruption problem in Bangladesh is endemic and a situation of absolute corruption can be said to exist in the country. Albeit slow, the Government is making steady progress in addressing some broad governance issues, including improving fiscal and financial management, project documentation and processing, public sector management efficiency, and corporate governance in key sectors. Recent measures by the Government to address core governance issues include: (a) the creation of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), (b) strengthening of law enforcement agencies, (c) establishment of regular courts in the hill districts where the majority of the country's indigenous peoples reside, (d) separating the judiciary from the executive, and various civil and criminal justice reforms, (e) development of a national integrity strategy aimed at combating corruption in Government, (f) passage of the Public Procurement Act in 2006, and (g) continuing corporatization and commercialization of sector entities (such as in power) and strengthening regulatory functions.

ADB's program of assistance to the Government of Bangladesh has as its core a focus on good governance and anticorruption. Good governance results form one part of the triage of results that ADB has strategically defined for Bangladesh (the other two being sustainable economic growth and social development). ADB?s strategy for good governance in Bangladesh also recognizes that a long time frame will be required to forge progress in this area in the country and that greater attention needs to be given to transforming organizations and building credible and strong institutions.

1. Vision, Strategy, and Procedures, including NIS, UNCAC, amended Anticorruption Commission Act, and strengthened Anticorruption Commission

2. Enforcement and Sanction Mechanisms, including strengthened judiciary, and improved prosecution

services

3. Prevention Mechanisms, including focused anticorruption interventions, accountability mechanisms in line

ministries, and grievance redress mechanisms

Largely accomplished. 44 out of total 47 policy conditions of the program were fully complied with.

Completed

Accomplished

RTI and whistleblower protection has been enacted and gazetted.

These plans have been put in place for 5 key sectors (such as railways, port, power, helath, education, etc.)

Certainly evident in line ministries and the central agencies through the work of the Cabinet Division.

The transparency has been increased greatly by PSC

The Office is yet to be established

NIS was approved by Cabinet in October 2012 with detailed action plan for all relevant institutions.

General improvement in ACC performance noted.

As above

ACC act of 2004 is consistent with UNCAC and rules have been framed consistent with ACC act.

Vulnerability to Corruption (VC) were carried out in 2009-10 in 6 departments / agencies. Performance indicators need to be established.

NIS was approved by Cabinet in October 2012 and NIAC has been formed with PM as the Chair and an Executive Committee with FM as the Chair. NIAC meeting held in March 2013 took decisions to implement NIS in all government departments and agencies.

Good progress made

Decentralized operations in place

Generally valid with some exceptions

Yet to be established

There are adequate resources. Large infrastructure project implemented in most disctricts for construction of court buildings for judges.

Done

Done for JSC and Judiciary but prosecution service not yet implemented

Fulfilled for lower judiciary

Fulfilled

Reporting and monitoring protocols are deemed to be more or less adequate although they haven't been substantially revamped

Reports prepared

Done