Doha, 29 Nov. 2024 (QT)

By Ashraf Siddiqui

Participants praised the success of the second ministerial meeting of anti-corruption law enforcement agencies in the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) hosted by Qatar which
concluded on Wednesday.

Talking to Qatar Tribune on the sidelines of the meeting, Dr Asif Nazrul, advisor to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs of Bangladesh, stressed the need for the implementation of the
Makkah Convention on anticorruption signed by Bangladesh in Doha on the last day of the OIC Second Ministerial Meeting held in Doha.

Dr Nazrul, who is a renowned author and a respected member of think tanks in Bangladesh, said that his country is currently passing through transformation after the students led mass movement against the previous corrupt regime.

He said Bangladesh is eager to seek international cooperation and assistance in recovering back billions of dollars laundered to other countries during the last 15 years of previous administration. He added that Bangladesh has also signed the Makkah Convention and hoped that through this forum and through
the convention it will be easier for it to stop money laundering and get back all laundered money taken outside.

Dr Nazrul, in the capacity of a ministerial position in interim government of Bangladesh, applauded the success of the OIC second ministerial meeting on anti-corruption and signing of the ‘Makkah Al Mukarramah Convention’.

He also praised the hospitality and organising skills seen in the way the conference was held, as well as in the number of participants of the OIC member states.

He said Bangladesh looks forward to the success of the Convention, which depends on its implementation. “We have trust in this Convention. That is why we are signatory to it. Soon we will ratify the convention after due process. Bangladesh is also a state party to UNCAC, and we also have anti-corruption commission in the country.

The present government is trying to get the opportunity for international cooperation in recovering country’s huge money laundered outside,” he said. Dr Nazrul said the achievement of the Convention will be through follow up processes.

Dr Akmal Burkhanov, Director of Anti-Corruption Agency of Uzbekistan said that he is highly pleased to see the success of the meeting which also offers a valuable platform for exchanging opinions and experiences.

He said corruption has increasingly become a global, transnational issue, evolving with new challenges like crypto currency, bitcoin, and IT-related cases. He added that sharing experiences and learning from other countries is vital for addressing these issues effectively.

He said that unfortunately, much of this occurs within government systems, underscoring the importance of gatherings like this, where countries demonstrate political will by uniting to combat corruption and discuss preventive measures.

He hoped that the conference will benefit Uzbekistan and strengthen cooperation among countries in the Islamic world.

Dr Burkhanov said that platforms like this provide a rare and valuable opportunity to work together against corruption, particularly within governments. “By fostering collaboration and shared strategies, we can collectively reduce corruption and advance our common goals of transparency and accountability,” he said.