Youth Leading the Integrity Movement in Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, where the mere mention of corruption was once considered taboo, the Global Compact Network Bangladesh embarked on a bold journey to address this pervasive issue. Recognizing the sensitivities around openly discussing anti-corruption efforts, Network Bangladesh strategically framed its initiatives under the banner of "integrity and good governance." This approach helped ease initial resistance from key stakeholders, including the private sector and academia, laying the groundwork for transformative change.
Recognizing that young people are the future leaders of both public and private sectors, Network Bangladesh embedded youth capacity-building into its integrity efforts under the Siemens Integrity Initiative, implemented by Global Compact Country Networks.
“Promoting integrity fosters a more ethical and sustainable society where people can exercise their rights and access information. Instilling ethical values in students prepares them for responsible leadership and helps build trust, attract talent and drive social progress,” explained Dr. Muhammad Faisol Chowdhury, Director, School of Business & Economics, North South University.
Through partnerships with universities, the Network launched the Youth for Integrity campaign, which has empowered over 2,000 students through eight workshops, three debate sessions, a youth declaration campaign and an inter-university contest titled “Corruption Through My Eyes.” These interventions invited students to reflect on how corruption affects their lives—from accessing public services and finding jobs to workplace ethics and organizational behaviour—and encouraged them to envision a more ethical future.
"Corruption is embedded in many parts of life. If we teach the right values today, our students will grow into responsible leaders who can create lasting change,” said Md. Al Amin, Senior Lecturer, School of Business & Economics, North South University.
One of the participants, Farhat, a 24-year-old student from North South University, shared: "I learned that you have to define your own thresholds, your own boundaries and where you're willing to draw the line."
Another student, Sharita, a 22-year-old Business Administration student, shared: "Through this session, I got to know more about integrity, organizational culture and what is ethical and what is not. It gave us a broad understanding of the boundaries we should maintain. I will definitely try to apply these learnings in my real life and stand firm on what is ethical."
Network Bangladesh also helped reshape the private sector integrity landscape by uniting key stakeholders and fostering a culture of transparency. The creation of Bangladesh’s first Anti-corruption Working Group, which has grown from eight in 2022 to 41 cross-functional members in 2024, was a major milestone.