The government needs to work out a comprehensive policy to check corruption and other irregularities in its National Service Programme, recommends graft watchdog Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).
Addressing a press conference at Brac Centre about the draft report of a recent TIB research on the government programme, TIB officials noted that they have found the prevalence of various irregularities and corruption, including the transaction of illegal money, during the implementation of the programme.
In her presentation on the research findings, TIB researcher Neena Shamsun Nahar said the research team has detected the incidents of transaction of illegal money at various stages of the programme, including selection, training and transfer.
It was found that candidates had to pay Tk 10,000-20,000 for their inclusion in the programme, received Tk 1,000-2,000 less than the promised training allowance, paid Tk 1,000-2,000 for securing a transfer to their location of choice, she said.
Neena also noted that there has been irregularity in the inclusion procedure due to the absence of any guideline for the inclusion of the beneficiaries.
“The survey on the unemployed youths in the programme implementation areas is also flawed.”
As a result, she said, candidates from relatively well-off, influential families are found out to be able to be selected more than that of the candidates who are really in need of the service, she added.
The National Service Programme was initiated by the government on a pilot basis in three districts — Kurigram, Barguna and Gopalganj — back in 2008 to facilitate temporary jobs to the unemployed youths.
So far, Tk 816.20 core has been allocated to the programme.
TIB chairperson Sultana Kamal and executive director Iftekharuzzaman also spoke on the occasion.
Source: UNBConnect
