Committee to analyse cause, extent of graft, not identify culprits: Debapriya

Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, head of the committee assigned to prepare a white paper on Bangladesh's economic state, clarified on Thursday that the committee's role is to analyse the causes and extent of corruption, not to identify or "catch" those involved.

"This committee will focus on understanding why corruption occurs and assess its severity," Dr Debapriya said. "However, it is not within our remit to identify individuals involved in corruption. That responsibility lies with the government and its relevant agencies."

He made these remarks following the committee's first meeting at the General Economics Division (GED) office in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. 

Debapriya emphasised that the committee's purpose is to enhance transparency in the country's economic landscape. "This exercise will help the current government better understand the state of affairs they have inherited," he added.

During the inaugural meeting, the committee discussed several key topics, including the context and purpose of the initiative, the scope and methodology of their work, the tentative structure of the final report, outreach and communication strategies, and the division of tasks among team members.

Debapriya also made it clear that the committee is not responsible for implementing any reform measures. "We are not here to carry out reform activities," he said.

He further clarified that the committee will not conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the banking sector and financial institutions. "The government plans to form a Banking Commission in the future to address those issues," he noted.

Regarding policy review, Debapriya mentioned, "The outgoing government has made numerous policies, and we will review their relevance. We will also provide indications of what the Ninth Five Year Plan might entail and offer suggestions on how to ensure a smooth transition from LDC status. Additionally, we will consider future relationships with foreign partners."

In response to a question, Debapriya, a distinguished fellow of CPD, stated, "We will not verify the cost or feasibility of specific projects, but we will examine various aspects of mega projects."

The formation of this committee follows a government decision on Wednesday to prepare a white paper on the current economic situation in the country.