Relaxing asset declaration to fuel corruption: TIB on Govt Servants Rules amendment
Expressing concerns, the civil society organisation, in a press statement issued today, called on the government not to implement the proposed amendment.
The Transparency International Bangladesh said making submission of annual wealth statements by public servants non-obligatory for the public servants will only encourage corruption and reduce accountability.
Public administration ministry has moved to amend the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1979. The draft of the amended Rules will be placed at the committee on administrative development affairs after law ministry's vetting, TIB said citing media reports.
Expressing concern over the move in a statement on Tuesday, the Berlin-based anti-graft watchdog called on the government not to implement the proposed amendment.
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It said the amendment will make some 15 lakh public servants immune to corruption.
"Removing the provision, that stipulates the submission of annual wealth statements every five years by public servants, will lead to more corruption by unscrupulous government officials," TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said in the statement.
"The proposed amendment to the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules is in stark contrast to the government's election pledge and declaration of zero tolerance against corruption at the highest level," he added.
Initially, there was a provision to submit the assets statement every year, but in the face of the reluctance of the government employees, the provision was later relaxed to every five years. Even, the relaxed rules are not followed properly, according to TIB boss
Government employees provide an asset statement at the beginning of employment. But they ignore the obligation to update the accounts after five years. Removing this obligation now means giving massive incentives to government officials to become corrupt, TIB says.
"Needless to say, if there is no provision to submit the statement of assets, government employees will have the opportunity to acquire illegal wealth through corruption without any fear," Iftekharuzzaman pointed out.
With the move, the sufferings of general people seeking service in government offices will increase alongside manifolds increase in Illegal money transactions.
"And above all, the dream of ensuring a well-governed government system will end in failure," the TIB chief commented.
