US to help Bangladesh get rid of corruption, says American envoy as he paints sordid picture of corruption
Dhaka, Feb 17 (UNB)-The United States is committed to helping Bangladesh rid itself of corruption and develop its full potential through good governance, said US Ambassador James Moriarty as he painted a sordid picture of pervasive malpractice.
“The U.S. promises to work hand-in-hand with the government of Bangladesh to mitigate the costs of corruption and its impact in Bangladesh,” he told his audience at the National Conference on Anti-Corruption Reform Efforts for Women Entrepreneurs under USAID’S Progati Program Wednesday.
Moriarty noted that the specter of corruption challenges women entrepreneurs in three areas of taxation, access to credit, and business-development services.
The American diplomat further pointed out that corruption compounds the discrimination women experience more broadly throughout society.
“As caregivers they are confronted with corrupt practices affecting their family’s healthcare. As parents they experience demands for bribe for school enrollment. As jobseekers, they have to pay foremen, supervisors and personnel officers in cash and in kind to get a job. As merchants they are forced to pay protection money to criminals,” he said.
“When corruption creates barriers for women entrepreneurs, the Bangladesh economy suffers,” he said, adding that women entrepreneurs face significant challenges due to such pervasive malpractice. At the same time, the spirit and commitment of women entrepreneurs to confront these challenges is strong and laudable.
Commerce Minister Faruk Khan, State Minister for Law, Kamrul Islam and President of Bangladesh Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Selima Ahmed also spoke at the function.
The US envoy observed that corruption reduces government revenue and impacts national budgets. This also directly affects women in general and women entrepreneurs in particular.
When there are insufficient resources, Moriarty said, the government cannot effectively fund health and social security programs that directly benefit women and children.
The Ambassador said the US government will assist Bangladesh as it continues to advance efforts to promote good governance and improve the stewardship of public resources.
He described the “Promoting Governance Accountability, Transparency and Integrity” project called PROGATI, funded by the U.S. government through USAID, as a perfect example of that U.S. commitment.
Today’s meeting is part of the “Engaging Women Entrepreneurs in Anti-Corruption Reform Efforts” project, a key component of PROGATI. Through this project, the US government has helped train more than 300 women entrepreneurs in skills necessary to avoid corruption.
He thanked the Bangladesh Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry on their important work fostering women entrepreneurs and promoting the fight against corruption.
Moriarty said through PROGATI, women entrepreneurs are examining how they experience corruption in their professional lives. They are identifying gaps in national policies.
He said women entrepreneurs are recommending areas where additional or new policies are necessary to create a corruption-free business environment for women entrepreneurs.
The American Ambassador urged policymakers and the government to seriously consider these recommendations. These recommendations reflect the stories of real women entrepreneurs dealing with real issues in their everyday life.
“The U.S. promises to work hand-in-hand with the government of Bangladesh to mitigate the costs of corruption and its impact in Bangladesh,” he told his audience at the National Conference on Anti-Corruption Reform Efforts for Women Entrepreneurs under USAID’S Progati Program Wednesday.
Moriarty noted that the specter of corruption challenges women entrepreneurs in three areas of taxation, access to credit, and business-development services.
The American diplomat further pointed out that corruption compounds the discrimination women experience more broadly throughout society.
“As caregivers they are confronted with corrupt practices affecting their family’s healthcare. As parents they experience demands for bribe for school enrollment. As jobseekers, they have to pay foremen, supervisors and personnel officers in cash and in kind to get a job. As merchants they are forced to pay protection money to criminals,” he said.
“When corruption creates barriers for women entrepreneurs, the Bangladesh economy suffers,” he said, adding that women entrepreneurs face significant challenges due to such pervasive malpractice. At the same time, the spirit and commitment of women entrepreneurs to confront these challenges is strong and laudable.
Commerce Minister Faruk Khan, State Minister for Law, Kamrul Islam and President of Bangladesh Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Selima Ahmed also spoke at the function.
The US envoy observed that corruption reduces government revenue and impacts national budgets. This also directly affects women in general and women entrepreneurs in particular.
When there are insufficient resources, Moriarty said, the government cannot effectively fund health and social security programs that directly benefit women and children.
The Ambassador said the US government will assist Bangladesh as it continues to advance efforts to promote good governance and improve the stewardship of public resources.
He described the “Promoting Governance Accountability, Transparency and Integrity” project called PROGATI, funded by the U.S. government through USAID, as a perfect example of that U.S. commitment.
Today’s meeting is part of the “Engaging Women Entrepreneurs in Anti-Corruption Reform Efforts” project, a key component of PROGATI. Through this project, the US government has helped train more than 300 women entrepreneurs in skills necessary to avoid corruption.
He thanked the Bangladesh Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry on their important work fostering women entrepreneurs and promoting the fight against corruption.
Moriarty said through PROGATI, women entrepreneurs are examining how they experience corruption in their professional lives. They are identifying gaps in national policies.
He said women entrepreneurs are recommending areas where additional or new policies are necessary to create a corruption-free business environment for women entrepreneurs.
The American Ambassador urged policymakers and the government to seriously consider these recommendations. These recommendations reflect the stories of real women entrepreneurs dealing with real issues in their everyday life.
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