“People living in a corruption ridden society are like the fish living in water. In water, when a fish opens and closes its mouth there is no way of knowing which of these movements involve drinking and which for breathing. Likewise, people living in a corruption-infested society cannot make the distinction between [a] bribe and a legitimate payment.” Kautilya in Arthashastra
A recent survey conducted by the World Economic Forum has revealed that 75% of the world’s population do not trust their governments, and the main reason is corruption.
Corruption in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is no stranger to corruption either. Transparency International has been ranking Bangladesh as among the most corrupt countries in the world consistently since the 1990s and the scourge reached its zenith during the 2009-August 2024, governing period.
In Bangladesh, corruption has gone through several phases. For example, initially, corruption was tolerated; then it got institutionalized; then corruption gained respectability; and eventually became an entitlement, implying that it was no more a deal under the table but a norm.
As a result, one of the key aspirations of the student-led mass uprising that abruptly ended the autocratic Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, 2024, is to free Bangladesh from the scourge of its “endemic, chronic, and all pervasive” corruption.
Aspiration for a corruption-free Bangladesh
Immediately after it assumed power, the post-Hasina interim government (IG) led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus commissioned a white paper (WP) to track theft and loot and identify the institutional loopholes that permitted the theft during the deposed Hasina government governing period.
The WP has since presented and discussed its findings publicly where it has revealed the extent and depth of the “embezzlements” that had taken place during the Hasina regime and at the same time, revealed the institutional loopholes that were used by the corrupt officials and their cohorts to loot and plunder the exchequer.
While these findings would no doubt help in formulating the future corruption control strategy in Bangladesh, it is also important to remember that the terms of reference of the WP did not include suggestions specific to corruption control measures.
Therefore, the search for an effective and a more holistic corruption control strategy continues in earnest. The good news is that there are now examples in many parts of the world including Asia which may be handy in the formulation of an effective corruption control strategy in Bangladesh.
Asia’s corruption control practices
A UN study, Public Accountability in Differing Governance Situations, reports how a number of Asian territories and countries, namely Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea that once were known for rampant corruption controlled the scourge — effectively and remarkably quickly.
These countries tackled corruption through means that were both systemic — meaning stronger transparency and accountability in public affairs — and those that targeted individuals such as public servants as well as politicians through a unique system of integrity checks.
Hong Kong
Until the late nineties and early 2000s, Hong Kong’s police were regarded as one of the most corrupt police forces in the world and yet, strategic governance reforms and introduction of innovative accountability enhancement measures quickly changed the scenario. So, how did Hong Kong do it?
In 1997, when Britain handed the island’s control to China after more than a century and a half, Hong Kong, which retained autonomous status, had a police administration that was highly centralized and opaque, with limited to no accountability. This made it one of the most corrupt and abusive police forces in the region, if not in the world.
China undertook massive reforms of Hong Kong’s police administration, from decentralization of the police services at the shire levels to democratization of the shire councils where police were put under the direct supervision of and made accountable to shire citizen committees.
Over the years, this bolstered transparency and accountability and dramatically reduced corruption and abuse in the Hong Kong police.
The search for an effective and a more holistic corruption control strategy continues in earnest
Singapore
In the early seventies, Singapore had very corrupt customs services and an inefficient and lethargic civil administration.
Lee Kuan Yew, the transformative prime minister of Singapore, made it his priority to rid the Singapore government of corruption and make its civil administration a dynamic, productive, transparent, and accountable public organization in the world.
Accordingly, Lee introduced a combination of measures such as decentralization and divestments of the public sector corporations as well as public utility services, down-sized and corporatized the ministries and departments, and made public administration merit-based by incentivizing it through salary increases and performance-based remunerations. At the same time, he made provision for harsh punishments for those who dared engage in acts of malfeasance.
South Korea
In Asia, South Korea’s success with corruption control has been the most phenomenal and unique of all.
South Korea’s corruption control measures broadly included two key elements — first with innovative strengthening of the accountability and transparency in public affairs and second with the introduction of a unique integrity verification measure that prevents people with questionable integrity from assuming important positions such as the heads of departments, ministers etc.
Introduced in the aftermath of a mass uprising against years of autocratic and kleptocratic governance, South Korea’s corruption control initiatives included among other things, enhancement of transparency and accountability in the government in myriad ways as well as empowering the citizens the right to view, query, and demand accountability, where needed.
South Korean government’s most astounding anti-corruption measure has been the introduction of the Personnel Verification System, the PVS, an integrity verification system that verifies the professional credibility and integrity of people who are selected and nominated for senior level positions in the government, namely the head of the departments, ministries, heads of police, the army etc prior to their appointments to these positions.
This means that no senior level appointments are permitted without the vetting of the PVS that involves checking of bank accounts transactions of the nominated person including their immediate family members, past history of influence peddling, nepotism, favouritism and so on.
In other words, the PVS helps keep “crooks out of the government.”
Thanks to these unique and all-encompassing corruption control measures, especially the unique PVS, South Korea, once known for mega corruption, has successfully combated corruption and has emerged as one of the most corruption-free countries in the world.
Asia’s best practices and corruption control in Bangladesh
It is fortuitous that at a time when Bangladesh is searching for a comprehensive and an effective corruption control strategy, there are best practices examples in its own neighbourhood which it may care to explore and emulate measures.
The article appeared in the dhakatribune