Dhaka:A national workshop titled 'Measuring Corruption for Reform Strengthening Evidence and Accountability in Bangladesh' concluded after a two-day session, emphasizing the necessity for robust institutional capabilities to produce reliable data on corruption.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the workshop ended with reflections from key oversight bodies and development partners on establishing sustainable accountability mechanisms. It was jointly organized by the Anti-Corruption Resource Centre, various embassies, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The event gathered government officials, development partners, academic experts, civil society leaders, and international partners, focusing on enhancing Bangladesh's ability to track corruption trends and assess reform impacts. It included discussions on international best practices and the operationalization of the UNODC statistical framework. Approximately 40 experts participated, reviewing existing data sources to build a comprehensive evidence base for national reforms.
Justice A. K. M. Asaduzzaman, Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission, highlighted the importance of strong institutions and public participation. Meanwhile, Md Emdadul Haque of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics pledged support for strengthening the evidence base for reforms. Ambassadors from Switzerland and Norway also emphasized the need for societal change starting from education and noted Bangladesh's potential leading role in implementing the UNODC framework.
UN Resident Coordinator a.i. Max Tunon and Dr. Iftekharuzzaman of TIB stressed the importance of measuring corruption and the need for innovative approaches to tackle issues like money laundering. Dr. Sofie Schuette from the Anti-Corruption Resource Centre highlighted the role of credible evidence in guiding reforms and strengthening accountability.