The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The visiting Transparency International (TI) Chairperson, Dr Huguette Labelle yesterday emphasised the need for introducing a monitoring system both inside and outside the Anti-Corruption Commission to monitor whether the anti-corruption drive was being carried out properly.

Addressing a press conference at Sonargaon Hotel in the city, she appreciated the reform measures taken by the present government saying that the measures would help reduce corruption in the country.

"A lot of measures that have been made are very important in reducing corruption.

These often do not happen overnight in order to see the differences," she said.

The TI Chairperson hoped that people of Bangladesh would be able to get essence of whether the corruption is indeed reduced by the measures that have been taken.

The anti-corruption drive and the trial of suspects in Bangladesh should be carried out in a transparent manner. Corrupt people should be prosecuted no matter who the person is. But it should be done in a proper justice system, she said.

Asked to comment whether the anti-corruption drive would leave any impact on the next general elections, Huguette Labelle hoped that the next general elections would be held in a free, fair and impartial manner as the reconstituted election commission was given strong mandate to ensure free and fair elections.

"The Election commission is playing its role in a systematic way and we hope the elections will be held in a free and fair manner," she observed.

Replying to a question she said anti-corruption drive does not reduce the economic growth of the country. Rather, she urged the people to look on rapid increase of prices of oil and gas, foodstuff, wheat, corn and sugar that contribute economic slowdown.

The TI Chairperson referred to the government effort to activate the key institutions of the country like the Anti-Corruption, Election Commission and Public Service Commission and said anti-corruption would not be needed if the institutions were worked properly.

On water sharing problem in the region, she emphasised the need for formation of a river commission comprising upstream and downstream countries to resolve all the problems related to sharing and using of common rivers.

TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman, among others, was present at the press conference.

Earlier, the TI Chief visited Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury at his office.

In the morning, she also inaugurated a three-day regional seminar at Hotel Sonargaon on the Water Sector.