Besides political stability and harmonic existence of political activists in the political programmes the first and foremost reason behind continuous and visible development of the country is presence of corruption-free and complicacy-free services from government officials. In the last few years Bangladesh achieved significant development in education, health, communication, ICT, trade & commerce and economic indicators. Bangladesh is rewarded for its rapid development by the international communities confessing it as combined hardworking efforts of politicians and people of the country. But nobody can deny the positive involvement of government service holders behind this achievement. Politicians are making the policies and government officials are working hard to implement these successfully. Now-a-days government officials are working beyond the scheduled office timetable facing risks and uncertainty for proper implementation of government policies. Despite working hard they are accused of insincerity in services, corruption and misuse of government resources.
Because of the allegation against government officials people forget their hard working contribution to the journey of achieving rapid economic development of the country. Nobody can blame all the government officials for their involvement with these types of unethical activities. On the other hand there is no scope of proving false the belief of people about government officials indulging in unethical activities in government services. People undoubtedly believe that economic development could happen more early and rapidly if government machinery could run sincerely in a corruption-free environment. People also firmly believe that tangible and continuous economic progress could happen by avoiding immoral activities and misuse of public resources by the government officials.
The burning question is that - why some of the government officials get involved with unethical activities. The answer is - insufficient opportunities may compel government officials to be involved in immoral activities. So we have to go deep for finding roots behind involvement of government officials in unethical activities in government services despite their remarkable contribution to the process of developing Bangladesh. Firstly, people involve themselves with corruption mostly just to ensure safe and sound future of the family members. This includes modern education facilities for their sons and daughters that are suitable for competitive world, quality medical facilities in case of diseases suffered by family members and ensuring housing facilities. Government officials can never fulfil these basic demands with the poor salary structure and other existing monetary facilities in comparison to other service holders in private sectors.
On the other hand the highest degree of discrimination prevails in the salary structure of government officers and staffs although price levels in the market are same for both. Because of poor salary they are depriving their family members of eating good nutritious foods. They also need to create access to quality education, to wear desired clothes, to provide proper medical treatment and above all to fulfil standard minimum requirements suitable for the society. It may be mentioned that government service holders will get pension after retiring from job. But to provide desired better education and medical facilities to their family members government officials need money in the early stage of their service time. They also need money early to ensure housing facilities for their family members. What will be importance of money getting after retirement from service when all their hopes and aspirations are shattered?
Bankers, officials of financial organisations and other private sector officials get sufficient loans to fulfil the demands for making houses or buying plot/flat, bearing expenses for expensive medical treatment of family members and providing high quality education to their sons and daughters. Government service holders also get loans for these purpose but the amounts are negligible and not enough for fulfiling real expenses.
Secondly, our people have mentality of maintaining strong family bondage. So government officials are to look after parents as well as kith and kin. But due to sudden and frequent transfer at undesirable places it becomes more expensive to keep touch with them. Moreover this brings demand for extra money to shift residence, schools/colleges for children etc.
Thirdly, government officials get less amount of money as T A and D A that can never meet actual costs. Moreover allotment as contingency expenditure is very poor.
Fourthly, discrimination in terms of getting promotion and other monetary benefits among cadre and non-cadre officers compels sufferers to become involved in malpractices. Cadre officers are also victim of discrimination because of politicisation.
It is inevitable for the government to resist all sorts of unethical activities from government services. So government officials should be brought under strong monitoring and rapid punitive measures should be taken in case of resorting to immoral activities. Before this they have to be ensured of some basic opportunities to encourage them to keep away from getting involved in immoral practices. Government may think about following steps to be taken to create corruption-free and complicacy-free services from public sectors:
1. Adjustable salary structure may be initiated reviewing current inflation rate of the country. Discrimination should be reduced in case of fixing up salary between officers and staffs.
2. There may be provision for getting the actual amount of loan for making house/buying plot and flat as well as for meeting expenses of ensuring quality education and medical facilities to family members. Strong punitive actions should be taken in case of receiving loans for false purpose or greater amount than actual expenses.
3. Cadre and non-cadre officers as well as staffs should be brought under the smooth process of getting promotion and other monetary facilities removing all sorts of discrimination.
4. After a certain period government officials may ask some options of working places for transfer. If possible they may be posted adjacent to their permanent/present residence. This may reduce corruption and other immoral practices because of the fear to lose traditional family and social prestige and status. Interior working places may be attractive to the employees with extra allowances.
5. Government officials may be provided with the actual amount of money as T A and D A. Offices can be given allotment of sufficient money to bear costs as contingency.
6. Politicisation of government employees should be prohibited by making a law in the parliament.
Email: auparbayazidkhan@gmail.com
© 2026 - All Rights with The Financial Express
