Legal expenses in Bangladesh are escalating at an alarming rate, driven by a syndicate of Supreme Court lawyers, said ICC Chief Prosecutor Md Tajul Islam on Monday. Tajul Islam said this while speaking at a dialogue titled "Dialogue for Democratic Reconstruction — on Judiciary," organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) at the CIRDAP Auditorium in the capital. Raising serious concerns about the state of the judiciary, the chief prosecutor said, “While a regular lawyer’s fee might amount to Tk 20,000, political biases in the courts often compel litigants to hire syndicate lawyers, who charge between Tk 5 lakh and Tk 25 lakh to secure bail or a favourable outcome.”  “Cases handled by general lawyers are unlikely to succeed,” he added, highlighting the difficulties faced by those unable to afford such exorbitant costs. Tajul Islam alleged that ordinary lawyers, unable to secure clients, are increasingly resorting to corrupt practices. He also criticised bench officers for accepting bribes ranging from Tk 20,000 to Tk 1 lakh to expedite the listing of bail petitions. Advocate Tajul Islam returning as Chief Prosecutor at ICT, where once he led defence of Jamaat leaders “I have seen instances where judgments were delayed by three years due to bribe-related issues. Political appointments of judges have exacerbated corruption within the judiciary. When the judicial system is used for political purposes, judges exploit the situation to engage in corrupt activities,” he mentioned. Citing the Supreme Court’s decision to halt the corruption investigation into S Alam, he posed a pointed question: “Why did the Supreme Court shield corrupt individuals who support the ruling party? This culture must end.” Backlog of cases The ICC Chief Prosecutor expressed alarm over the backlog of cases in the judicial system, and described how files are stored haphazardly in inadequate spaces, including in front of bathrooms in annex buildings. He called for the urgent digitisation of case management to enhance efficiency. “At present, even if no new cases are filed, it would take at least 30 years to resolve the existing backlog.” The prosecutor underscored the necessity of structural reform in the judiciary to ensure its impartiality and effectiveness. He urged authorities to address corruption, improve infrastructure, and embrace digital solutions to overcome the inefficiencies plaguing the judicial system.

Law Adviser Asif Nazrul on Monday underscored the urgent need for sweeping reforms in Bangladesh's judiciary, mentioning that political appointments of judges have undermined its integrity. “The appointment of judges based on political loyalty in the High Court is a major factor behind the collapse of Bangladesh's judiciary. No matter how sensitive or contentious the term ‘reform’ is, we have no alternative to it,” said Nazrul at a dialogue titled "Dialogue for Democratic Reconstruction on Judiciary" at the CIRDAP Auditorium. If Bangladesh isn't built back better than before, July Uprising will have failed: Asif Nazrul The Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) organised the dialogue. Criticising the recruitment culture, he said, “If judges are appointed based on their allegiance to political slogans like 'Jai Bangla' or 'Zindabad’, there can be no hope for justice. We need to rethink our approach and provide actionable frameworks, such as charts, for tracking progress instead of merely issuing recommendations.” Regarding the issue of lower court independence, he said, “We often focus solely on ensuring the independence of the lower courts, which typically means their accountability to the High Court. But if the High Court itself is the most corrupt and politically loyal institution, how can we ensure judicial independence?” To ensure greater transparency, Asif Nazrul recommended establishing an independent secretariat or Registrar General's office for the High Court. “This proposal, initiated by the Chief Justice, is under consideration, and we plan to hold consultations on its implementation,” he said.  

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas today (March 21, 2023) said his country is committed to working with Bangladesh to eliminate corruption – enabling Bangladeshis to enjoy lives of dignity and drawing more international trade and foreign investment. “If Bangladesh can assure citizens and investors that corruption is less prevalent here than in other markets, it will attract more investment and help the country continue on the path of economic growth,” he said.     Ambassador Haas made the remarks at an event, titled “Call to Action Against Corruption Summit”, at a Dhaka hotel, organized by Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) and Center for International Private Enterprises. The US ambassador said corruption exists, to one degree or another, in every corner of the globe, and they are all too familiar with what it looks like.  Read More: Excited to see more Bangladeshi students are choosing US: Peter Haas “It’s trying to get a driver’s license and having to pay ‘speed money’.  It’s knowing that if you want a passport appointment, it’s going to cost you extra.  It’s needing to bribe the right official to register a plot of land you just purchased,” Haas said. Corruption is a parasite that feeds on the resources of a society and drains it of its strength and can devastate every level of business and government, he said.   “Sadly, some notorious scandals have occurred in my own country,” said the US ambassador. Yet, he said, exposing corruption and holding perpetrators accountable have catalyzed economic growth in the United States and elsewhere.   Read More: New US Ambassador Peter Haas arrives in Dhaka “When societies exert such efforts, they prosper. I am confident this can be the case here in Bangladesh, as well, and the United States is eager to help,” he said.    Under President Biden, the US government has established the fight against corruption as a core national security interest, he added.   “We support initiatives that help Bangladeshi businesses meet international standards and regulations, making them more competitive in the global market,” said the envoy.   “By promoting ethical business practices, we can create a more level playing field for businesses of all sizes and encourage more foreign investment,” he added. Read More: Peter Haas nominated next US Ambassador to Bangladesh The US Agency for International Development, USAID, has partnered with Bangladesh’s Registrar of Joint Stock Companies to launch an online registration process for new businesses.   This makes registering new businesses more transparent, faster, and more affordable, Ambassador Haas said. USAID has also worked with the Bangladesh National Board of Revenue to establish authorized economic operators. This endeavour empowers the private sector, instead of the government, to release shipments at ports, he said.   As a result, Haas said, the process has become more transparent and raised the level of trust between the private sector and the government. Read More: Prevent corruption in every sector: President to ACC The US Department of Commerce’s Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) works with the Private Public Partnership Authority Bangladesh to conduct workshops to improve the legal and business environment of Bangladesh.   CLDP also works with Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) to improve municipal governance by improving fiscal transparency. Under this program, CLDP invited over a DNCC delegation, including the mayor, to Miami in January.   The US Department of Justice trains investigators and attorneys in the Anti-Corruption Commission on topics such as how to investigate and prosecute money laundering, how to use electronic evidence, and how to investigate financial crimes.   “It has also fostered a relationship between Bangladesh’s Financial Intelligence Unit and the International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre,” Haas said.   Read More: All-pervasive corruption by AL destroys economy: Fakhrul “The United States is committed to holding corrupt officials accountable for their actions. This can take various forms,” said the ambassador.   Just as US laws hold American citizens and businesses accountable for corrupt practices, there are US laws and penalties that apply to non-citizens who use corrupt practices in violation of the laws. “What can the Bangladeshi government do to reduce corruption?  It could think about ways to empower institutions to tackle corruption and promote transparency and accountability in governance and business,” he said.   One idea is to reduce the amount of cash that officials handle by replacing cash-based financial transactions with the government with online transactions, Haas said.   Read More: Power tariff being raised frequently to manage corruption: Fakhrul “Citizens could pay bills, fines, and taxes electronically. Such a process would minimize the opportunity for bureaucrats to overcharge or misplace public funds into their own pockets,” he said.   Haas recognized the important role a vibrant civil society and free media play in investigating and exposing instances of corruption. Bangladesh has many advantages that potential investors would find attractive, he said. “But as American business leaders tell me: multi-national firms have options on where they invest.”   They will choose whichever country has the lowest levels of corruption, the fewest bureaucratic obstacles, the greatest respect for rule of law, and the best logistics infrastructure for their business, he added.   Read More: BNP's complaints about corruption 'laughable': Hasan Mahmud

Speakers at a webinar on Friday engaged in a healthy debate on if the  national budget  2021-2022 was a ‘one step forward’ or if it severely lacked accountability and transparency. Planning Minister M.A. Mannan MP stated that the government is on the right track in formulating the budget. He also stated that a deficit budget is necessary for growth and poverty alleviation. The planning minister said that the budget was business-friendly and “one step forward” for the country, but he did highlight that he has not seen the rate of growth in Bangladesh’s economy that he had expected to see yet. However, Center for Policy Dialogue executive director Fahmida Khatun said that the implementation of the budget lacks accountability and transparency, and highlighted the lack of discourse on the budget at the parliament. READ: Publish gender-budget report, Mahila Parishad urges govt “The budget has been prepared using a top-down approach, and inputs from the grassroots levels have not been taken into consideration. The stimulus package or other incentives work only when there is an honest business environment, which is lacking in the country,” she said. According to her, the budget also doesn’t provide sufficient guidance of recovery for Bangladesh after the pandemic. They came up with the remarks while addressing an online discussion organised by the Centre for Governance Studies on the proposed National Budget for 2021-2022. Former commerce minister and BNP standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said that t people are too focused on the details of the budget and not paying attention to the actual unique economic model in Bangladesh. He stipulated that the whole economy has been geared to serve the interest of certain syndicates who are responsible for vast amounts of money laundering and black money. Since these money laundering schemes are also factored into the GDP measure of the country, he argued that key indicators of development in Bangladesh are being distorted. He emphasised that political decisions have to be made while keeping the interests of the general public and not powerful groups and syndicates. READ: Budget document: Preparations under way to face the challenges of developing economy Besides, former National Board of Revenue chairman Muhammad Abdul Mazid, Dhaka University professor Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir and Economist Muhammed Parvez Imdad were among the notable speakers at the event.

The city corporations of the country do not have an entomologist on their payroll yet, although their research is crucial for controlling the mosquito population.