Citizens are paying an astronomical amount of Tk 6,796 crore a year in bribes to 25 service sectors. This was revealed in a survey conducted by the Transparency International, Bangladesh covering 3,000 households of 55 districts, mainly in urban areas. It further states that even sectors like health and education are now steeped in abysmal corruption along with the police and the lower judiciary.

The bribe money amounts to roughly two per cent of the GDP. The two per cent erosion of the possible GDP growth also tallies with the World Bank findings of the GDP growth lost to corruption. It is also proof enough why the country is perceived to be among the toppers on the list of the most corrupt nations in the world.

Corruption on this scale is bound to have a crippling effect on the performance of different sectors. Bribing entails systems loss in utilities by way of underbilling of usage and unauthorised consumption. The corrupt officials in the service and tax-oriented sectors are actually depriving the government of revenue earnings or causing drain on the exchequer. So corruption has its all pervasive evil influence on society as a whole. It is a 'cradle to grave' syndrome in our context which affects people at every step of their lives.

Containing corruption is imperative not only to stem the GDP loss but also to refurbish our image abroad and attract foreign investment to the country. The surveying organisation has suggested some remedies to set things right. Obviously, a strong political will is needed before any positive change can take place. An active and independent Anti-Corruption Commission and appointment of many ombudsmen are some of the measures that need to be adopted. However, the importance of the pure law enforcement approach, that is, meting out exemplary punishment to the corrupt elements can hardly be overemphasised. The extent of corruption in the government offices suggests that something more than routine steps has to be taken to keep things under control.

The government should respond to the report with a positive attitude, instead of viewing it as an attempt to blur its image. The truth of the matter is that corruption has assumed an intractable character and the government's duty is to act firmly against it, which it has not done so far.