ROLE OF E-GOVERNANCE TO REDUCING CORRUPTION IN BANGLADESH: A STUDY ON BANGLADESH RAILWAY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55197/qjssh.v7i3.1221Keywords:
e-governance, corruption control, Bangladesh railway, digital governance, transparency, public valueAbstract
The Bangladesh Railway has been one of the most corruption ridden organizations in the country, suffering from administrative overreach, political interference, and the prevalence of informal practices. What does the digital governance revolution mean for this reality? This paper seeks to explore the impact of digital governance reforms on the Bangladesh Railway. Based on interviews with key stakeholders, surveys of 200 individuals, and access to various policy documents and institutional records, we assess the impact of digital governance reforms such as the implementation of online ticketing, e-procurement, digital payroll systems, and digital grievance systems. Our findings are intriguing. While digital governance has certainly reduced the corruption that once plagued the railway, making it difficult for citizens to buy tickets or file complaints, it has not eradicated the evil. Corruption has merely moved from the more visible spaces to the less visible spaces. In order to understand the reasons behind such differing results, this paper also seeks to incorporate two theoretical models, namely Technology Acceptance Model and Public Value Theory. It is the hope of the author that the message conveyed by the paper will be one of the positive impacts of digital reform, provided it is accompanied by the necessary will, accountability, and investment in governance.
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