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 | | Sunday, 30 December, 2001, 20:03 GMT Bangladesh corruption targeted  The watchdog says corruption is endemic in the country By the BBC's Moazzem Hossain in Dhaka The international anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International has called for an independent commission to investigate high-level corruption in Bangladesh. The Berlin-based group says corruption is endemic in Bangladesh but the country's Anti-Corruption Bureau has limited powers. It says the bureau is directly controlled by the prime minister's office and needs clearance to open inquiries against politicians and other senior officials. The anti-corruption watchdog says legal complexities also prolong investigation and settlement of the cases. Transparency International rates Bangladesh as the world's most corrupt country. Political interference A former director general of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Badi-ud-Zaman, said there was not a single instance where the bureau had filed a corruption case against any politician or minister of the governing party.
Mr Zaman said corruption charges were brought against politicians only when they were out of power. Transparency International says constant political interference and lack of political support and goodwill are the reasons for the bureau's weak performance. The Chairman of Transparency International's Bangladesh chapter, Khan Sarwar Murshid, said they were hopeful that the government would consider their recommendation to set up an independent commission. Some analysts say the country's main political parties support the idea but the government seems to be reluctant. | | See also:  Internet links: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Top South Asia stories now:  Links to more South Asia stories are at the foot of the page. | |
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