Dhaka: Noting that political will is a must to check corruption in the country, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Dr Iftekharuzzaman on Wednesday said it is quite impossible to achieve sustainable development goal-16 (SDG-16) without ensuring good governance and combating corruption.

The aim of SDG-16 is to ensure peace, justice and strong institutions.

"Alongside considering all equal to laws, political will is a must to control corruption and this commitment should be implemented...because there's no alternative to political will to control corruption," he said while addressing a human chain programme.

Local chapter of the Berlin-based anti-graft agency arranged the programme in front of the Teachers Students Centre (TSC) of Dhaka University, marking the International Youth Day 2017.

Iftekharuzzaman said the government earlier expressed its firm commitment to eradicate corruption by announcing its election manifesto, ratifying the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), and taking five-year plan and the National Integrity Strategy.

"The government and its high-ups must implement these pledges (not keeping those in papers only) in combating corruption and establishing governance," he added.

During the human chain programme, TIB called upon youths to get them involved in anti-corruption movement and implementation of governance activities aiming to help achieve the SDGs.

TIB officials, its members, students and civil society members joined the human chain programme.