Published: 09 December 2015
TI-Bangladesh today called upon the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to vigorously assert its legal mandate without fear or favour in controlling both rampant petty and grand corruption in Bangladesh. “The country could have prospered more had we been able to modestly contain the ill effects of both petty and grand corruption that is currently eating up some 4% of national GDP”, Dr. Iftekharuzzamn said this morning during a human chain organized in front of Teachers and Students’ Centre at the University of Dhaka to celebrate the International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD) 2015. Youth volunteers of TIB-inspired Youth Engagement Support (YES) groups, students, network members and representatives from various civil society organizations joined this human chain.
With the theme ` Vigilant conscience, invincible youth shall surely resist corruption’, TI-Bangladesh celebrated this year’s IACD with a series of activities in the Capital and 45 locations of the country, demanding an end to the culture of impunity and ensuring appropriate punishments to the corrupt people. It also demanded, among others, that the day is observed officially to motivate people to raise their voices more in ensuing transparency and accountability in the public service deliveries.
The national IACD observance began on 5 December with the distribution of prize money, a crest and certificate to the winners of the 17th Investigative Journalism Awards. Preceded by a discussion meeting on 'the media and good governance', the Prime Minister's International Affairs Adviser Professor Dr Gowhar Rizvi, the chief guest of this event, observed no government could prevent publication of fact now as media would find ways to communicate information to the people.
On 7 December, TI-Bangladesh awarded cartoonists and photographers for their outstanding contribution to the promotion of anti-corruption messages using the creative art forms of cartoons and photos. Ms. Hanne Fugl Eskjaer, the Danish Ambassador in Bangladesh and Ms. Karin McDonald, Counsellor, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Development Cooperation, Swedish Development Cooperation Agency in Bangladesh attended as Guests of Honour during the inauguration of exhibition and distribution of prizes.
At the same time, a week-long exhibition comprising 63 cartoons and 23 photographs was also inaugurated on that day. The exhibition is open to all from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm from 8-14 December at DRIK Gallery in Dhanmondi.
As a part of the IACD observance, TI-Bangladesh on 8 December arranged an anti-corruption cultural event at Rabindra Sarobor Mukta Moncha in Dhanmondi, Dhaka. People from different strata of lives gathered where noted musicians Shyan, Rathindranath Roy and Bappa Majumder, including Dhaka YES activists enthralled the audience with their performances.
In addition, an animated television commercial was broadcast on 6 TV channels (Channel i, ATN Bangla, Banglavision, NTV, Channel 24 and Shomoy Television) during prime time on 8 and 9 December.
The IACD 2015 was also duly observed in 45 locations of the country where TIB-inspired YES members demanded the same using various social accountability tools, including various cultural events, rallies, human chain and discussion meetings.
