The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The US government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) recently launched PROGATI, a four-year project designed to control corruption by strengthening public oversight of government funds.

PROGATI, an acronym for Promoting Governance, Accountability, Transparency and Integrity will work together with government agencies, civil society organisations, NGOs and media outlets to promote improved governance of public resources.

According to a US embassy press release here on Sunday, PROGATI will introduce participatory activities in four thematic areas.

First, it will work with the next Parliament and assist them with the management of national budgets and the monitoring of government expenses.

Second, PROGATI activities will also help monitor the usage of public resources to establish a more transparent and accountable relationship with the people.

Third, to increase citizen's understanding and participation in the national budget process, PROGATI will collaborate with civil society organizations that play an important role in promoting reform.

Finally, the project will collaborate with media outlets and journalists to raise professional standards and build a culture of investigative journalism that encourages reporting on corruption issues.

The US government works closely with NGOs, local government and major political parties in Bangladesh to increase the country's capacity for participatory democracy, strengthen its institutions of good governance and support its culture of tolerance.

"Our activities support political party reform and credible elections, promote transparent and accountable government, support effective and participatory local governance, combat trafficking in persons, and encourage civic engagement by key leaders of influence," the press release said. The US government has a long history of extending assistance to Bangladesh to recover from disasters, try to escape poverty and engage in democratic reforms, it added.

Through USAID and other agencies, the US government's assistance to Bangladesh includes support for the return to democracy through free, fair and credible elections and more transparent and accountable governance; support for a better educated, healthier and more productive population; and assistance to increase economic opportunities through equitable economic growth, improved food security and disaster mitigation.