Four SDG goals stalled
While there are many remarkable achievements for Bangladesh to boast in terms of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to a Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) report launched on September 17, progress in terms of four specific SDG targets under Goal 16 i.e. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, is being severely hindered. The report states that various government agencies are not functioning as expected due to political influence, centralisation of power and dominance of executive branch.
While the existing laws of the National Integrity Strategy institutions are more or less sufficient, there does exist a culture of impunity that needs to be firmly addressed by the government. Laws must apply equally to everyone. Institutionalised corruption, money laundering, bribery and human rights violations on multiple accounts, including forced disappearances and extra judicial killings, arbitrary or unlawful detentions have continued despite being flagged multiple times by human rights organisations. Mechanisms, to investigate human rights violations, accountability of state-owned commercial banks, and corruption committed through political-administrative nexus, must be strengthened.
When citing success in terms of MDGs and SDGs we tend to think of peace, security and justice issues as separate from health, education and economic indicators. But economic growth, transparency and accountability of institutions and human rights are not mutually exclusive. Rather, one cannot be achieved without the other. In order to ensure that we continue to flourish as a nation, we must ensure greater transparency and accountability of legal, political, social and economic institutions, both governmental and non-governmental.
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