ZCZC
BSS-43
ACC-OXFAM-DEAL
ACC, Oxfam sign deal to raise awareness against graft
DHAKA, Jan 16, 2020 (BSS) – International agency Oxfam and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at raising awareness against graft.
The five-year long MoU was signed by Dr Dipankar Datta, Oxfam in Bangladesh’s Country Director and A K M Sohel, Director General (ICT & Training), ACC at ACC head office in Dhaka in presence of ACC Secretary Md Dilwar Bakth, Oxfam Business Development & Quality Director Mostafijur Rahman, Economic Justice and Resilience Lead Dr. Khalid Hossain, Policy Advocacy Head S.M. Monjur Rashid, and other senior officials of both ACC and Oxfam, a press release said.
The 2020 marks the birth centenary celebration of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The Father of the Nation had always dreamt of building a ‘corruption and inequality free’ Bangladesh.
To realize the dream of the Father of the Nation, the ACC-Oxfam debate competition and other youth engagement programs will enormously contribute to the prevention of corruption by creating awareness.
ACC and Oxfam are launching a national debate competition which will pave the way of creating mass awareness about corruption.
Under the signed MoU, Oxfam will also work with ACC as knowledge partner in the areas of research and campaign to reduce inequality in the society by preventing corruption.
Corruption is commonly defined as the abuse of public office for private gain. When corruption is widespread, it robs people of their rights as citizens and their dignity as human beings. And again when corruption threatens democratic representation, the voices of those living in poverty and in marginalized communities, including women, are silenced.
Dipankar Datta said, “We hope that a better understanding of the phenomenon of corruption and its relationship to good governance will help improving our efforts to reduce inequality and poverty. The national level debate competition will essentially contribute to that understanding, especially for the young generation who will lead the country in the nearest future.”
“We are extremely proud to strengthen our working relationship with the Anti-Corruption Commission. The ACC has taken several welcome steps forward in addressing corruption across Bangladesh in recent times. I think our partnership will help us work together to prevent corruption and enable people across Bangladesh to stop corruption”, Dipankar added.
The ACC-Oxfam National Debate Competition will reach more than 28,000 high schools across Bangladesh. Besides, both the organization will organize essay writing, citizen’s dialogue and other awareness events throughout the year across Bangladesh.
ACC Secretary Md Dilwar Bakth said, ‘The government follows ‘zero-tolerance’ policy when it comes to address corruption. We believe that corruption can be eliminated from our society and prevention is the only effective method to achieve that. In order to achieve that goal, we are partnering with organizations like Oxfam.’
Oxfam’s recent study finds that last year, the poorest half of the world became 11% poorer, while billionaires’ fortunes rose 12% – or $2.5 billion every day. The gap between the richest and poorest people is growing. While people at the top get influence, opportunities and power, the poorest people miss out on the basics they need – like schools, jobs and healthcare.
Oxfam is working globally with governments to reduce inequality from the societies. Oxfam believes that a corruption free society will enable citizens to have better access to essential services including education and healthcare, greater rights for women and increased support for poor and marginalized.
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