IAGGA REPORT SUBMISSION FOR BANGLADESH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 001241

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INL/C/CP (Diane Kohn)

SENSITIVE, SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A
TAGS: KCRM PGOV BG
SUBJECT: IAGGA REPORT SUBMISSION FOR BANGLADESH

REF: STATE 30961

Sensitive but unclassified


1. (U) Post is pleased to provide its submission for
the 2004-2005 International Anticorruption and Good
Governance Act as requested reftel.


2. (SBU) Begin text:

Bangladesh

Government Efforts: The Government of Bangladesh (BDG)
established an independent Anti-Corruption Commission
(ACC) in November 2004 to replace the Bureau of Anti-
Corruption. The ACC has been ineffective since its
formation, and has not finalized its internal
organizational structure. Under World Bank pressure,
the BDG gave preliminary approval to a draft
procurement law. The law remains pending. At the
urging of multilateral and bilateral donors, the BDG
has cancelled procurements due to corruption in the
power and telecommunications sectors and projects to
support social development. Two ministers resigned
following corruption scandals that received significant
press attention.

Law Enforcement and Legal Systems: The USG has provided
technical assistance and training since 2004 to the BDG
to support amendment of its anti-money laundering law
and establishment of internal institutions for
investigating and prosecuting financial crimes,
including corruption. The office of the Resident Legal
Advisor was established in 2005 to support these
efforts. Several USG agencies have provided training
to professionalize law enforcement officers in
conducting criminal investigations and in investigating
police criminal misconduct.

Transparent Governance: USAID worked closely with
other donors and the Prime Minister's Office to design
a long-term, government-wide anti-corruption strategy.
The resulting draft framework, once adopted, would
create a road map for the government's overall approach
to combat corruption. Eleven USAID implementing
organizations have undertaken a pilot program to
promote citizen participation in determining the
allocation and use of resources in their respective
sectors. USAID developed a toolkit for community
coordination of activities, knowledge sharing and
peoples' empowerment based on this experience. Open,
public budget hearings organized by USAID and aimed at
increasing the financial transparency of the lowest
level of elected government, were conducted in 65 local
government units during 2005, enabling citizens to
scrutinize their budgets, prioritize development
projects and receive reports of public expenditures.
On average, this transparency program has led to a 15%
increase in local revenue collection.

Civil Society: The Embassy actively promotes a free
and independent press in Bangladesh. Senior USG
officials have raised concerns about violence against
journalists and the self-censorship that this violence
causes, both publicly and in private discussion with
government officials. USAID programs provide training
on investigative journalism to enhance the capacity of
Bangladeshi journalists to conduct investigative
reporting based on international standards and
principles. Every year, the Embassy sends journalists
to the United States on the International Visitors
program and on reporting tours. The Embassy also
sponsors several training programs for journalists each
year. NGO's, in particular Transparency International,
actively promote public awareness of corruption issues
in Bangladesh, including through public seminars and
education campaigns. USAID supports local governance
initiatives to foster active public participation in
oversight of government institutions and decision
making, including local governance and budgeting and
fiscal expenditure monitoring.

End text


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