US GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES "PROGATI" TO HELP FIGHT CORRUPTION

DHAKA,Bangladesh, June 16 (BSS) - The US government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) recently
launched PROGATI, a four-year project designed to control
corruption by strengthening public oversight of government funds.

PROGATI, an acronym for Promoting Governance, Accountability,
Transparency and Integrity will work together with government
agencies, civil society organizations, NGOs and media outlets to
promote improved governance of public resources.

According to a US embassy press release here today, PROGATI
will introduce participatory activities in four thematic areas.

First, it will work with the next Parliament and assist them
with the management of national budgets and the monitoring of
government expenses.

Second, PROGATI activities will also help monitor the usage
of public resources to establish a more transparent and
accountable relationship with the people.

Third, to increase citizen's understanding and participation
in the national budget process, PROGATI will collaborate with
civil society organizations that play an important role in
promoting reform.

Finally, the project will collaborate with media outlets and
journalists to raise professional standards and build a culture
of investigative journalism that encourages reporting on
corruption issues.

The US government works closely with NGOs, local government
and major political parties in Bangladesh to increase the
country's capacity for participatory democracy, strengthen its
institutions of good governance and support its culture of
tolerance.

"Our activities support political party reform and credible
elections, promote transparent and accountable government,
support effective and participatory local governance, combat
trafficking in persons, and encourage civic engagement by key
leaders of influence," the press release said. The US government
has a long history of extending assistance to Bangladesh to
recover from disasters, try to escape poverty and engage in
democratic reforms, it added.

Through USAID and other agencies, the US government's
assistance to Bangladesh includes support for the return to
democracy through free, fair and credible elections and more
transparent and accountable governance; support for a better
educated, healthier and more productive population; and
assistance to increase economic opportunities through equitable
economic growth, improved food security and disaster mitigation.