Corruption drains $2.1b from coffers

Corruption has drained the coffers of an estimated $2.1 billion during the first half of this year, according to a report of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).
Releasing the report to senior journalists, Prof. Muzaffar Ahmed, Trustee of TIB, said the figures were compiled from newspaper reports.
"But this figure is the tip of the iceberg," said Prof Ahmed, who was an adviser in the caretaker government in 1991.
Corruption has been retarding the progress of the nation, he added.
TIB executive director Barrister Manzoor Hasan said the 'News Scan Database Report' is wholly based on reports of nine national and six regional dailies published during the period.
The report said 1,345 reports were scanned during the period of which 655 related to financial loss.
Education sector topped the list with an estimated loss of Tk 20 million. Five other departments also lost close to Tk 20 million, while the Passport & Immigration department was drained of Tk 10 million.
TIB said corruption has increased three times in vital sectors of the government, including law enforcing agencies, local government, education and health.
Corruption has also infringed upon the rights of citizens, polluted the environment, deteriorated the law and order situation, curbed human rights and inflicted physical torture, according to TIB report.