Dr. Momen: An Embodiment of Transparency, Good Governance

 
Newly appointed Chairman of Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) Dr. Mohammad Abdul Momen has been one of the best choices so far made by the interim government led by Nobel laureate Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Dr. Mohammad Abdul Momen's profile, which is currently available on ACC website, shows that he studied Law, Political Science and Economics in Dhaka, London and Wales. He also acquired PhD from London, England. An erudite individual like Dr. Mohammad Abdul Momen with his multidisciplinary qualifications and acumen will be hopefully able to pave the way for a Bangladesh free of corruption and abuse of power.

Dr. Mohammad Abdul Momen established an exceptional instance of transparency and integrity by unfolding his personal wealth statement to the country's people which is rare in Bangladesh. It should be noted emphatically that Bangladesh will truly overcome corruption and irregularities in all sectors if all higher officials follow the example set by Dr. Mohammad Abdul Momen as stated above. Dr. Mohammad Abdul Momen is a man of rectitude, love for freethinking and strong moral principles with highly cooperative, well-mannered and friendly qualities.

It was observed with alarm and despondency how Bangladesh was dogged hard on heels by lack of accountability, honesty and transparency during last many years. Particularly the country's financial and banking sectors were devastated by enormous financial scams, dire loan frauds and an egregious scale of money laundering. As a result of these malpractices, not just banks and financial institutions, the economic status of the whole country has reached the edge of a long and unfathomable ditch.

It is very much essential for bureaucrats to exercise honesty and sound professional ethics when it comes to the core concept of running state machineries smoothly. It must be remembered that bureaucrats hold their posts for several decades as long as they are in service but politicians hold temporary echelons. A government in Bangladesh is elected for a period of five years. So, cabinet members, most of whom are political leaders, can cling to their chairs for five years only for the most part. But this thing does match bureaucrats because government officials can keep on working in Bangladesh until they turn 59 years old. For this reason the indispensable part of state mechanism should be spotlighted on the virtues of bureaucrats. It does not mean that the necessity of honest politicians can be obscured though.

Top bureaucrats in the United States of America are known as Permanent Secretary. Ministers are known as Secretaries in the USA. Bureaucracy is the driving force behind proactive, sagacious, dynamic and philanthropic administrative operations in any country including Bangladesh. Corruption and socio-economic advancement cannot go ahead hand in hand. That's why building up a society liberated from the vicious claws of corruption is the stepping stone to reach the zenith of peace, progress, harmony and affluence.

Eminent economist and social activist Professor Anu Muhammad said that most of the appointments in the Anti Corruption Commission during last around 15 years were politically selected while the main focus was on the incumbent's loyalty to the ruling party. Professor Anu Muhammad expressed hope that the restructured Anti Corruption Commission will be able to combat corruption, nepotism and undue interventions without compromise.

Dr. Naznin Islam, Chairperson of Department of Public Administration in Dhaka University said that officials of all ranks and files in Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) need to be courageous, straightforward and thoroughly honest. ACC officials should be given full independence to work rising above all fears or favours, Dr. Naznin Islam added.

On the other hand, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said "The newly appointed top officials' concrete actions in days to come will show to what extent their honesty turns out to be beneficial for the nation".