Lack of accountability blamed for sluggishness in work
Prime Minister's Adviser Alauddin Ahmed yesterday came down heavily on bureaucrats for their sluggishness in work, saying that files are being piled up in their offices and major portion of jobs remains unfinished, but none is held accountable.
"There has been a record of maximum top level meetings, and files are piling up. Every file is stuck… How can a country run this way?” said the adviser on education, social development and political affairs at a seminar.
Transparency Interna tional Bangladesh (TIB) organised the seminar titled 'Integrity pledge: Participatory governance through social accountability' at Brac Centre Inn in the city.
The administration is not working very well, as the system itself is inherently defective, he said, adding that nobody is accountable to anyone, not even to himself/herself, in the in-built bureaucracy.
Once a file goes to the secretary, it is sent to all levels of officials down to the administrative officer and then it goes up again, Alauddin said, adding: “This system needs to be stopped.”
He suggested that there has to be some officers responsible for particular jobs and accountability has to be ensured.
Criticising the perception that politicians have destroyed the country, he said it is the secretaries and military rulers who have mostly abused power.
There was also misuse of power by Anti-Corruption Commission during the last caretaker government, who tried to depoliticise the countrym he said.
The present government formed all the parliamentary committees to oversee the jobs of different ministries in a bid to reduce corruption.
Prof Muzaffer Ahmad, a trustee of TIB, said it is very difficult to work against corruption in a society where wealth and consumerism get priority and social and political intolerance is high.
Therefore, only the support of grassroots people can help reduce corruption, he noted.
Urging the lawmakers, Prof Ahmad said, “You better raise question about the transparency in budget implementation, instead of condemning or appreciating anyone in parliament.”
TIB Chairman M Hafizuddin Khan, Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Prof Salahuddin M Aminuzzaman, some lawmakers and TIB officials also spoke.
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