Int'l Anti-Corruption Day to be observed Saturday

The International Anti-Corruption Day will be observed across the country for the first time on Saturday.

The Anti-Corruption Commission will arrange elaborate programmes marking the day with the theme ‘Come, Get united against the corrupt’.   

Chairman of the Commission Iqbal Mahmud will inaugurate the event and a mass signature programme. The mass signature programme will continue until December 14.

Besides, a human chain led by its chairman and commissioners will be formed where officials and employees of the head office and Dhaka Divisional Office, panel lawyers of the Commission, members of Dhaka City Anti- Corruption Committee, Girls Guide, Boys Scout, Ansar and BNCC members will join.        

Meanwhile, a discussion programme will also be arranged at the auditorium of the Jatiya Natyashala of Bangladesh Shilapakala Academy at 11 am where prominent writer Dr Jafar Iqbal will be present as the chief guest.

Human chains, discussions, documentary screening, and cultural programmes will be arranged in districts and upazilas across the country as part of the celebration.     

UN says that every year $1 trillion is paid in bribes while an estimated $2.6 trillion are stolen annually through corruption – a sum equivalent to more than 5 percent of the global GDP. 

In developing countries, according to the United Nations Development Programme, funds lost to corruption are estimated at 10 times the amount of official development assistance.

Corruption is a serious crime that can undermine social and economic development in all societies. No country, region or community is immune.

This year UNODC and UNDP have developed a joint global campaign, focusing on how corruption affects education, health, justice, democracy, prosperity and development.

The 2017 joint international campaign focuses on corruption as one of the biggest impediments to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

ACC started to observe the day since 2007 while the United Nations declared the December 9 as International Anti-Corruption Day’ in 2003.

The cabinet of the Bangladesh government approved observing the 9th December as the International Anti-Corruption Day on July 10 this year. 

Source: unb