Vetting panels must screen out servile and corruption-prone officials. The last time the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) found itself in the public spotlight, in May this year, it wasn’t a pretty sight: all nine members of the commission, after some hesitation, resigned in disgrace.

THAI TALK: ‘Vicious triangle’ has become terrible axis of corruption

A deafening silence prevails over Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s much-heralded promise to name a trustworthy outsider to head a new commission to monitor possible corruption in government circles, particularly in the execution of the upcoming mega-projects that are supposed to give the sagging economy a major boost.

Fundamentalism threatens Bangladesh

Is Bangladesh headed into the black hole that consumed Afghanistan under the Taleban? Fears are mounting, as official and fundamentalist religious forces now seem to operate with impunity – and the apparent support of local police, the ruling Bangladeshi National Party, and local authorities.