Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed deep concern over the move to amend the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules 1979 by relaxing the provision for mandatory submission of wealth statements.

As a result of this initiative, some 15 lakh government employees will be exempted from accountability as well as corruption will be encouraged, a TIB press release said on Tuesday.

The Bangladesh chapter of the Berlin-based Transparency International (TI) has also urged the government to stay aside from the initiative.

TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said that the annulment of the provision requiring the submission of wealth statements could potentially exacerbate corruption among dishonest government officials.

The proposed amendment to the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules is exactly opposite to the government's electoral pledge and its top leadership’s declaration of zero tolerance policy against corruption, he said.

Initially, there was a requirement to submit asset statements annually, he said, adding that due to the reluctance of government employees, this provision was later relaxed, allowing for the submission of wealth statements every five years.

Now, the removal of this obligation signifies a potential encouragement for government employees to engage in corruption on a larger scale, said the TIB Executive Director.

“If there is no provision to submit the wealth statement, the tendency among the government employees would go up to acquire illegal wealth through adopting corruption fearlessly,” he said.

At the same time, the suffering of people to avail the services in government offices will increase, illegal money transactions will enhance manifold and overall the government’s dream of ensuring a well-governed system will end in failure, said Dr Iftekharuzzaman.