Diplomatic Desk:
A special workshop was held in Bangladesh focused on measuring corruption, conducting data-driven assessments, and strengthening anti-corruption reform initiatives. The workshop, organized under the leadership and initiative of Reto Renggli, the Swiss Ambassador to Bangladesh, saw the participation of representatives from both the government and civil society.
The Embassy of Switzerland organized the workshop in partnership with the U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the embassies of Denmark, Germany, Norway, and the United Kingdom.
Discussions at the workshop centered on identifying corruption trends in Bangladesh, addressing data gaps, and highlighting the importance of robust data and statistical systems for evaluating the effectiveness of various anti-corruption reforms over time.
Speaking at the opening session, Ambassador Reto Renggli emphasized that tackling corruption requires a fundamental shift in the overall societal perspective and mindset—a transformation that should begin as early as kindergarten and within the classroom. He noted that while adhering to rules is one thing, fostering a genuine belief in and respect for those rules is a social prerequisite.
He further added that for anti-corruption efforts to be effective and sustainable, the mere formulation of laws and policies is insufficient; rather, integrity, accountability, and respect for rules must be embedded at every level of society.
