The Concept of National Integrity Strategy

National Integrity Strategy is developed on the understanding that

entrusted power will be used for its publicly justified and
democratically endorsed ends and reduce the likelihood that those
powers are abused. NIS can thus vary from country to country with
similar functions being performed by different institutions. A NIS can
also vary in terms of its coverage, completeness and effectiveness, but
there are almost always some common elements which it can be built
on. The NIS as a concept thus acknowledges variations around the
world, but generally covers common integrity pillars of a given
society which is seeking to govern itself in an accountable fashion.
NIS thus proposes a set of objectives, elements and pillars which are
more than a mere anti-corruption strategy, but can be treated as a
normative model for the entire political system.
In 2007, the Government of Bangladesh acceded to the United
Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and prepared a
comprehensive report on the domestic institutions that could support
implementation of the Convention. This report on UNCAC
highlighted that corruption thrives on systemic weaknesses. In
Bangladesh, just as in other countries, anti-corruption strategies can
only be effective if they proactively address the need for prevention
through the eradication of the causes of corruption as well as its
detection and prosecution. Both public and private sectors have key
roles to play here and the task of eliminating the causes of corruption
will only be successful if a multi-disciplinary approach is undertaken.
National Integrity Strategy (NIS) is a comprehensive set of goals,
strategies and action plans aimed at increasing the level of
independence to perform, accountability, efficiency, transparency and
effectiveness of state and non-state institutions in a sustained manner
over a period of time.

Objective
The National Integrity Strategy has been formulated with a view to
preventing corruption and establishing integrity in the State and
society in Bangladesh. Proposals have been made for capacity
development of important institutions and organizations of the state,
civil society and the private sector. Action plans have been tailored to
implement the strategy through existing laws, rules, systems and their
reforms and in some cases promulgation of new laws and rules. In the
action plans, implementation periods have been proposed as shortterm (within one year), medium term (within three years), and longterm (within five years) measures. The state institutions identified for
this purpose are: (1) Executive organ and Public Administration, (2)
Parliament, (3) Judiciary, (4) Election Commission, (5) AttorneyGeneral, (6) Public Service Commission, (7) Comptroller and
Auditor-General, (8) Ombudsman, (9) Anti-Corruption Commission,
and (10) Local Government Institutions. In addition, the non-state
organizations covered in this strategy are (1) political parties, (2)
industrial and commercial organizations in the private sector, (3)
NGOs and civil society, (4) family, (5) educational institutions, and
(6) media.
The objective of the National Integrity Strategy is to map the
institutions and the inter-institutional dynamics of integrity systems,
and assess those systems capacity, performance and institutional
strengths and weaknesses to address and improve the overall integrity
system.
NIS in broad terms aims at to:
To promote and enhance democracy and economic
development;
To establish a condition where the ethics infrastructure can
perform effectively, irrespective of political or economic
change; and
To promote integrity as a desirable personal quality.