TIB for transparent transactions, financing in Mujib-Year programmes 

Bangladesh will celebrate the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from March 17, 2020 to March 17, 2021.

The government has arranged a number of programmes for the year-long celebration.  

Bangabandhu had left directives and strategies to control corruption, said Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB). 

The Father of the Nation compared corrupt people to beasts and also asked the people of the country to prevent them from carrying out such practices, he added. 

He said, "In this birth centenary, the government should follow the call from the Father of the Nation to stand against corruption and to build a corruption-free and properly-governed Bangladesh."

The government should ensure transparency in financing, financial transactions and accountability in all the activities to celebrate Mujib Year, added Iftekharuzzaman. 

The TIB also made some specific proposals on the eve of Mujib Year. The proposals include: establishing zero tolerance for corruption in the state mechanism and in the mainstream of government; celebration of Mujib Year as a real programme of the state instead of celebrating on partisan aspects.   

The proposals also include: ensuring transparency of all financial transactions, publishing the financial transactions on a website that is accessible to the public and on other modes, ensuring accountability. 

The TIB has also proposed abstaining from fund collection in all forms from political parties, civic bodies, private organisations, and educational institutions over the Mujib Year programmes. 

The other proposals include: publication of all expenses incurred so far over the celebration; prioritising public interest in trials of corruption; withdrawal of all kinds of political and government influence from the Anti-Corruption Commission; ensuring all constitutional rights and amendment of controversial laws to practice the rights; confirming equal rights of every citizen regardless of gender, religion, age, and ethnicity.