Invincible Youth Shall Resist Corruption
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Waves: TIB Newsletter Year -10 Issue - 4 October - December 2006 Special Issue 2006 Invincible Youth Shall Resist Corruption Anti-Corruption Concert Diagnostic Study Report CCC Activities Cartoon & Essay Competition Corruption Perception Index 2006 International Anti-Corruption Day Observance Parliamentary Style Debate Competition Global Corruption Barometre Report Regular People's Theatre Shows EDITORIAL Invincible Youth Shall Resist Corruption The quest to achieve the seemingly unachievable is an inherent as well as nationally. Working with each of theses CCCs are groups characteristic of the youth. The youthful creativity and fearlessness of young volunteers and theatre activists with an unwavering is the source of life’s joy and fulfilment. The youth is always vocal determination to curb corruption. They are mobilizing themselves to against all irregularities in the social and state structures. They take reject corruption on their own, and to motivate others to do the the lead in singing the song of freedom by tearing apart the same. Many positive examples of change have already been set at shackles of injustice, oppression and subjugation. local levels thanks to innovative actions by the young volunteers. The history of Bangladesh is replete with evidences of youth glory. The The youth of the country involved with TIB have also expressed their students and young generation have always been fearlessly at the resolve to fight corruption through various programs at the national forefront of almost all our historic movements and achievements – the level. The year 2006 witnessed particularly intense efforts to language movement of 1948-1952, the education movement of 1962, sensitize and mobilize the youth through events like anti-corruption the mass upsurge of 1969 leading to the liberation war and national debates and essay competitions. Highlights of these programs were independence in 1971. The realization of independence at the cost of the first ever cartoon competition and anti-corruption concert millions of lives in which the youth took the lead set a unique example organized to mark the International Anti-corruption Day 2006. in the history of the world. The mass upsurge of 1990 against the All these programs at national and local levels have been dovetailed authoritarian rule was yet another example of the victory of the youth into YES - the Youth Engagement and Support program. The main against misrule, abuse of power and denial or democratic rights. objective of this program is to generate awareness among the youth The invincible youths of this land have repeatedly proved that the and motivate them to prepare themselves as future leaders of the people, who are the ultimate source of power, never conceded country who will be imbibed with anti-corruption commitment and defeat; and that they never will. values. Anti-corruption oath-taking and signature campaign are key features of all activities under YES which is being joined by more This achievement of the people of Bangladesh and the glory of self- and more youth and students day by day. sacrifice of the youth are now challenged by the evil force of unabated corruption, which has been identified as the worst enemy Inspired by deep sense of patriotism and core values of democracy, of the democratic aspirations, good governance and social the YES participants of TIB have pledged to build a corruption-free emancipation. Corruption stands as the biggest impediment against Bangladesh where a transparent and accountable system of economic development, reduction of poverty, rule of law and social governance will take deeper roots. All these are anchored on their justice. Democratic institutions and the national integrity system uncompromising pledge to hate corruption and refrain from all types have been rendered ineffective due to corrupt practices of people in of manifestations thereof. positions of power. The young are selfless and courageous; they are ever ready to Against this backdrop the social movement against corruption challenge any social menace. Corruption is just one such evil. launched by Transparency International Bangladesh is aimed at Whatever monstrous its strength may appear to be, corruption is creating the demand for controlling corruption by engaging the bound to be defeated by the unselfish and valiant power of the citizens at large, with a particular emphasis on the youth force. youth, particularly when they are united and committed. The Committees of Concerned Citizens (CCCs) have been The young generation of Bangladesh is gradually becoming organized established in 36 locations of the country. These CCCs are working and saying NO to corruption. Thanks to their resolve, dynamism and on a fully voluntary basis to create and intensify the demand locally innovation, the invincible youth will certainly resist corruption. Waves : TIB Newsletter 2 COVER STORY Anti-Corruption Concert: Invincible Youth Shall Resist Corruption The first ever anti-corruption concert in Bangladesh as well as in Muhammad Zafar Iqbal and Professor Muzaffer Ahmad also this type in the world was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 29 expressed their solidarity with the youthful stand against December 2006. Organized by TIB, the concert was the talk of corruption. the country for the youths during the Although the concert was scheduled to last 10 days of the month. The artistes start at 2 p.m, enthusiastic youth were who took part in the concert were This is not a reality, as if a dream. Slogans seen queuing up at Gulshan Youth unanimous in claiming that such a big to resist against corruption voiced by Club from 12 noon. The Executive concert had not taken place in this thousands of youth indicated the roadmap Director of TIB, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman country in the recent years. Most of the of our future Bangladesh. declared the concert open right on spectators at the concert said that the time. Immediately after that, the passion shown would certainly - The Daily Ittefaq, 09 January 2007 plucking of guitar could be heard from a motivate the youth to become active A strong commitment raised by the musical 100 thousand watt sound-system. At against corruption. force to resist the demons of corruption on the same time, the melody of joy TIB organized this concert as part of a concert in the late afternooon of winter. reverberated in the minds of the the YES Program to generate Transparency International Bangladesh audience. The presenters Sharmin enthusiasm against corruption among arranged an open air concert to mobilize Lucky and Aditya Kabir first announced the youth. Around 30 thousand young the youth of the country in the movement the appearance of ‘Souls’ on the stage. boys and girls were vocal on the day against corruption. The group started with their anti- with the slogan ‘Invincible Youth shall - The Daily Janakantha, 16 Poush 1413 corruption song ‘Jhut Jhamela’ after Resist Corruption’. Azam Khan, LRB, urging everybody to rise up against Thousands of youth expressed their Miles, Renaissance, Souls, Feedback, corruption. After that, ‘Feedback’ and solidarity to resist corruption from the Warfaze, Dalchhut, Black, Artcell, ‘Renaissance’ came on the stage. Both country in the first ever anti-corruption Pentagon, Shironamhin, Meghdal, each bands delivered two songs and concert. Arthoheen, Haider, Shahed, Fahmida expressed their solidarity. By then, the Nabi, Mehreen, Rab Fakir, Shahjahan -The Daily Prothom Alo, 30 December 2006 concert ground was full to the brim. The Munshi, Aklima, Anti-corruption whole area was agog with the noise of Gombhira Group of Chapainawabganj and the Volunteers’ clapping and the joy of youthfulness. Then arrived Azam Khan Group of CCC-Chokoria expressed solidarity to resist corruption and ‘LRB’. After Azam Khan’s song ‘Bangladesh’ was over, Ayub with the youth through their musical rhythm. Nobel Peace Prize Bachchu started to sing after urging everybody to become vocal winner Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Abdullah Abu Sayeed, against corruption. The young spectators also joined their Waves : TIB Newsletter 3 COVER STORY favourite singer in a youthful chorus. Towards the end of the Board Abdullah Abu Sayeed said, “I have entered like a demon day, the stage was illuminated with dazzling lights. The artistes amidst this music”. But when he urged the youth to shun delivered their popular songs one by one. Those were either corruption interspersed with stories, the spectators listened to patriotic songs, or spoke against corruption and irregularities. him avidly. He said that people should at least protest if they The concert came to life with a combination of rock, hard rock, did not have the courage to take up the sword against fusion and folk songs. The youths corruption; if they lacked even this made conscious utterances about their There have been many changes in Bangladesh. courage, then they should hate it duties and responsibilities while Many things like communication system, from the depths of their mind. Nobel enjoying this exquisite musical economic growth have made substantial Laureate Professor Muhammad evening of winter. Popular personality Yunus expressed his desire to come advances. More progress could be achieved. and litterateur Zafar Iqbal appeared on to the concert. But he could not do But a huge demon stands before us on this path the stage. The young spectators were so as he was in Oslo at that time. thrilled at finding this popular of advancement. Called corruption, this demon But he sent his speech in a video for personality in front. Addressing the wants to devour everything. But it must be the youths. His speech for the youth youths, he said, the freedom fighters stopped. It is young people like you who can came with his smiling face in the who liberated the country in 1971 had stop it. We all have to disapprove of it huge projector screen. He said, pledged that there would be no collectively. If we do not protest, then there is a huge demon standing corruption in this beautiful land.