KM ANIK
24 UPDATE
06/11/2017
Special News "TIB IN BANGLADESH"
Reported in BANGLADESH
The TIB identified the institutions' non-cooperation, corruption and lack of initiatives as the main reasons behind the delays.At ACC's 13 mass hearings between January, 2015 and June, 2016, people filed 181 complaints against institutions like upazila land office, Palli Bidyut Samity, Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha and sub-register's offices. Of those complaints, 132 remain unresolved.The TIB report cited many complainants who blamed the ACC and institutions concerned for their lack of follow-up activities to resolve the complaints.The report on effectiveness of ACC's mass hearings was disclosed during a press conference at TIB's Dhanmondi office in the capital.The graft watchdog conducted the study between December, 2016 and August, 2017. Three of the 13 hearings took place in Dhaka's metropolitan areas.The researchers interviewed 195 of a total of 299 complainants who participated in the hearings, 51 officials of the institutions and talked with deputy commissioners, additional deputy commissioners, and upazila nirbahi officers.Forty-three percent of the complainants who sought services later faced even more challenges. The authorities misbehaved, showed non-cooperation and demanded bribes. Some even said they were threatened by police.Some of the complaints prompted institutions like Upazila Land Office, Palli Bidyut Samity Office, Rajuk, Settlement Office, and Sub-register's Office to improve their services. But some officials' lack of professionalism persisted, said the report.Over 130 complaints were made against land-related service providers. The complaints included demanding bribes, harassing service seekers, neglecting duty, misbehaving and being fraudulent.Some of the complaints were about land grabbing through muscle power and fraudulence, it added.Although 78 percent of the complainants were assured of solutions to their problems at the mass hearings, only 14 percent of them said processes to do so were underway during the research period.However, several positive steps were taken by the public service institutions after the mass hearings, the report added.While 54 percent of the institutions had visible information boards before the hearings, 77 percent had them after the hearings.Some other positive steps included in preserving documents (from 60 percent to 77 percent institutions) and receiving complaints over phone (from 40 percent to 58 percent).The report also pointed out some challenges in arranging mass hearings. These include influential quarters like politically-linked individuals and brokers threatening participants, lack of awareness about mass hearings, and lengthy speeches by designated guests.The Berlin-based watchdog recommended the authorities to take steps to ensure that the process of addressing a complaint does not hamper when an official is transferred.It also recommended ACC to spread awareness about mass hearings, incorporate local non-government organisations, and ensure presence of related officials at the mass hearings.Speaking at the press conference, TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said successful mass hearings can generate trust in people.He also said public service institutions have to take steps if they want to reduce people's distrust.
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