The immediate past Awami League-led government formed a 17-member National Pay and Services Commission (NPSC) on November 17 last year with Dr. Mohammed Farash Uddin, former governor of the Bangladesh Bank as its chairman. The commission started functioning from December 17, 2013 and it would submit its report to the government within a year.
According to a report published in the media, the NPSC will recommend a hike in salary structure for government officials and employees to such an extent that it could help prevent corruption and encourage productivity of public servants. Dr. Farash Uddin told reporters that it would propose salary enhancement for government officials taking some issues including reduction in corruption, ensuring transparency and enhancement of their productivity into consideration. The intention is very honest but is it realistic or utopian? It is now a billion-dollar question as to whether a salary hike will restrain government officials from corruption.
First of all, we should have to consider the environment under which the government officials are working. The government, ever since the inception of Bangladesh, has been profligate. Austerity should have been the call of our leaders from the day one of our independence. People of Bangladesh did not fight for political independence only. They rose against economic exploitation and deprivation of the erstwhile Pakistani rulers. The nation achieved independence at the loss of three million lives while 3,00,000 women were dishonoured and innumerable houses and other structures were demolished and burnt. The present Finance Minister earlier on several occasions called for austerity and belt tightening.
Now comes the question of productivity of the government officials. Productivity is inextricably linked to efficiency. Again efficiency depends on certain external factors such as method of selection, training, promotion posting etc. Policies involving the aforesaid issues should be framed and implemented without political interference. Seniority of officials should be religiously followed because deprivation or violation of seniority demoralises the victims. All governments have been following the pick-and- choose policy in selecting bureaucrats for senior and strategic posts with hardly any consideration for efficiency, seniority and other qualifications.
A few years back, a deputy secretary was promoted to the post of secretary within two years, thereby circumventing the decade-long seniority. How can efficiency be raised in such a hostile environment? Politicisation of bureaucracy and criminalisation of politics have created an unholy alliance among a section of politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen that have led to the growth of widespread financial corruption.
Independence, it seems, has given the corrupt a right to pillage their country. Even their rural residences have cost billion of takas. The Anti-corruption Commission has been pursuing the high-profile cases of late. If it can take its actions to logical end, the country can prove its resolve to fight corruption.
Salaries of the government officials have been raised from time to time and other benefits extended. Now they are being provided with festival bonus. Accommodation and transport facilities are also provided as far as practicable.
Against this, the condition of other segments of people such as farmers must not go out of sight. Today markets for potato and other vegetables have been totally ruined. There has been a meteoric fall in potato prices which is far below the production cost.
The investors willingly went for investment in the share market and incurred heavy losses. There was wide media coverage both at home and abroad. Politicians, particularly from the opposition, vociferously raised their voices and demanded compensation. The government also responded. But who is going to compensate these hapless vegetable growers?
Definitely there will be a limit to what extent the NPSC can move. Of course, it will be an act of audacity to remind the NPSC of the financial limit when it is headed by one of the senior economists of the country. But one thing is sure that mere salary hike will not serve the purpose. There must be patriotism and pro-people mindset among bureaucrats. The government officials will have to realise that compared to millions of ordinary people, they are living in a better condition. A lot of criticism has been made regarding subsidy on agriculture. But public educational institutions totally exist on subsidy in the form of government grants. The amount paid by the pupils is very insignificant. On one occasion, Bangabandhu publicly and very candidly reminded the government officials that their educational expenses and subsequently their salaries are paid from the taxes people pay. Of course, this realisation would only come under an ideal political leadership. Appeasement in the guise of salary hike will not suffice.
rezaulparvaz@live.com
Will salary hike be a panacea for curbing corruption?
Syed Mahbubur Rashid | Published: March 19, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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