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Problems of Democracy- Rampant Corruption

Corruption represents a seamy side of politics and administration of a society. Corruption keeps countries a soft state unable to confront developmental problems pragmatically. In Bangladesh corruption has become so rampant that no sphere of public life is freed from the virus of it and this prevalence of rampant corruption made the country as the most corrupt country of the world for five consecutive years. Today, corruption has turned Bangladesh into a laughing stock,
taking a massive toll of not only its progress but also its image abroad.[1]It drained government wealth estimated at $ 2.1 billion dollar per year. Of the billions of dollar the world sent for the development of the country, only 25% had gone towards that purpose( Prof. Dr. Abul Barkat, 2001). Bangladesh politics is plunged into corruption, nepotism and favoritism. It has become the most profitable business in the country. Because of having extensive opportunities of self-enrichment through control of the sate apparatus, the overriding goal of politician becomes capturing and retaining state’s power by hook or crook. People frequently enter the politics as it is the main avenue for grasping economic power overnight. In an extremely unequal but highly competitive Bangladeshi society, where elections determine which groups of people will wield power, rampant corrupt practice are most likely to emerge. Here, black money holders and musclemen rather than honest efficient and dedicated politicians control the election process ranging from party nomination ticket to election results. People spend money or donate to party funds during elections in the hope of getting favor and patronage from the party once in power. These corrupt practice in politics bring down the opportunity for the mass people to participate in the national polity, thwarts the growth of democratic institutions, inhibits the operation of market force, leads to leakage in the utilization of aid money and above all, demoralize the honest and efficient politicians and officials thereby it poses tremendous threat to democratic governance in Bangladesh

Corruption is most prevailant in the administration of Bangladesh. The Bangladesh bureaucracy is well known as hot bed of corruption. Corruption in the administration is worse than anywhere in the society. According to the report of the Transparency International, Bangladesh in 2005, 2007 that the highest amount of corruption was found amongst the first class officers of the bureaucracy, civil administration. Extreme politicization, corrupt practice, nepotism are prevailing in the administration ranging from recruitment process, promotion to transfer. Bribery has been a common practice in the government office. There is no place of administration whereas one can get anything done without paying bribe. Consequently, administration has become slow, sluggish unable to deliver on some of the most important targets the government has set for it.

[1] Amin, Zulfiquer Ahmed, “Corruption is Why We Are so Poor” The Daily Star, Dhaka, 12th November, 2007

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