Corruption and Education Inequalities in Bangladesh

Development and Inequalities

Corruption and Education inequalities in Bangladesh

3rd December 2016

Table of content

1. Abstract                                                                                1
2. Introduction                                                                         2
3. Corruption inequalities                                                         4
4. Education inequalities                                                         5
5. Solutions                                                                         5
   a. Solutions for education                                                         5
   b. Solutions for corruption                                                         6
6. Conclusion                                                                         7
7. Bibliography                                                                         8

This report will introduce a study of the two main inequalities in Bangladesh: Corruption and Education. Bangladesh is one of the most corrupt countries in the world at every level (Public services, administration, civil society…) according to Transparency International (T.I ,2015) and it contributes to slow down the growth and increase inequalities between inhabitants. Also, education, one of the two dominant issue of the country, begins to improve with an external assistant (NGO’s, agencies.) and government efforts. But there are still huge disparities concerning education. This essay will show how the government, NGO’s, and other agencies manage to deal with these two major issues.

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(Map of Bangladesh, 1997)

Located in the north of the Gulf of Bengal and almost enclosed in India, Bangladesh is a country who raises many difficulties and inequalities. Precariousness, political crisis, terrorism, natural disasters and population growth, the country faces many challenges. With less than $2 per habitant per day, Bangladesh in one of the poorest country in the world. Bangladesh ranks 155th out of 180 countries with a GDP per capita of $ 1,334. By adhering to the Millennium Development Goals of the united Nations in 2015, this country faces the challenge of ending poverty by 2030 by reducing the huge disparities in the country. Indeed, 31,5% of the population is living below the poverty line (HIES,2010) and even if Bangladesh recorded a growth of its economy since a few years, about 6,6% in 2015 according to the World Bank (World Bank,2015) inequalities are still increasing because growth does not benefit to minorities and the extremely poor population of the country. The government, institutions but also international organizations need to settle this type of inequalities but corruption is one of the biggest problems in Bangladesh. The country ranks 147th out of 179 countries according to Transparency International Corruption Perception Index (2012). Bribes are sometimes the only way to move things that are paralyzed by the government. The state is very large and is used by government officials, politicians and friends of power to extort wealth, which helps to maintain inequalities and hatred towards the government. Also, Nationalism and Islamic fanaticism have done much damage to the quality of education for Bangladeshis.

This report will introduce the following question: What is the impact of education and corruption in Bangladesh on inequalities and what are the solutions implemented by the government and others institutions to regulate this?  The first part of this essay will study the impact of corruption on inequalities, the second part will examine the effect of education on inequalities and finally, the third part will be focus on the solutions implemented by the government and other international and local institutions in order to improve the situation.

First of all, this report will show that corruption can have huge impacts on inequalities in Bangladesh. Corruption is defined as “the abuse of public or corporate office for private gain” (World Bank, 1997). According to Transparency International, Bangladesh was the world’s most corrupt country between 2001 and 2005, and nowadays, one of the most corrupt in the world. Corruption is present at all levels of the country. In the government but also in private organization and the public sector which has huge social and economic consequences. Since 1990, Bangladesh has lived under a system of parliamentary democracy in which two parties, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Awami League (AL) succeed one another. But both of the two parties accept corruption in the country. According to the World Bank, corruption has brought up nearly 3% of growth and nowadays growth stands at 6%. “Corruption tends to flourish when institutions are weak and economic policies distort market place” (World Bank,1997). Corruption can be considered as positive for the economy but it only contributes to widened inequalities.

Corruption undermines the State and it is also a regression of one of the fundamental principles of democracy: equal access for citizens to market, jobs and public services without other considerations than capacity and merit.
The consequences of corruption are deteriorating the economic development of the country. At first, it creates a distortion of competition and a reduction of investment, consequently, it reduces the rate of production and growth. Corruption has not only an impact on the economy but also have a social impact. Indeed, it marginalizes poor and weak people because riches people are the only beneficiary of the corruption whereas for poor people it only contributes to making them even poorer. It results in real social inequalities but also a sense of social insecurity and an unstable society.