White Collar Crimes in Bangladesh Perspective

Abstract

The concept of white collar crime is usually associated with Professor E.H. Sutherland whose penetrating work in this area focused the attention of criminologists on its demoralizing effect on the total crime picture. Professor Sutherland pointed out that besides the traditional crime such as assault, robbery, dacoity, murder, rape; kidnapping and other acts involving violence, there are certain anti- social activities which the persons of upper strata carry on in course of their occupation or business. These activities for a long time were accepted as a part of usual business tactics necessary for a shrewd professional man for his success in profession or business. Thus any complaint against such tactics often went unheeded and unpunished. A white collar criminal belong to upper socio-economic class who violates the criminal law while conduction his professional qualities. Thus misrepresentation through fraudulent advertisements, infringement of patents, copyrights and trademarks, are frequently resorted to by manufacturers, industrialists and other persons of repute in course of their occupation with a view to earning huge profits. Of all the factors, the economic and industrial growth throughout the world has perhaps been the most potential cause of increase in white collar crimes in recent years including in Bangladesh also.