Public money should be spent truly gainfully
Friday, 3 December 2010
Even her worst critics ought to admit that the time spent by our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the UN headquarter only about a month and half ago lent a good image to Bangladesh for scoring success in MDG goals as well as deepening awareness about the imperiled conditions of Bangladesh from climate change. Thus, the trip to the USA was productive in some respects.
But the extraordinary size of the Prime Minister's delegation also raised eyebrows. According to media reports, 101 persons went with the Prime Minister to New York and this was indeed a huge number compared to the tasks at hand. It was observed that the greater number of them really had no use for furthering in any mentionable way any of the objectives of the country. But they certainly enjoyed themselves from sight seeing, shopping and other entertainments.
It would not matter if they had borne even partly the costs of their travel and related expenditures. But entirely the costs of their travel and relatively luxurious upkeep was borne from the taxpayers' money of this one of the poorest countries on earth. And this where the conscience pinches. Why should people's money be allowed to be so wasted ? It sets a bad example about not observing austerity in the running of government in a country like Bangladesh which runs considerably on foreign loans and its people have to sacrifice a lot in debt servicing as these abilities are rising higher.
Whatever things were sought to be accomplished through this visit, could be well achieved through a far smaller but well selected number of experts, businessmen and professionals. In that case the visit would be considered as fully productive in promoting its goals but doing the same at least costs.
It is noted that Cabinet Ministers remain on foreign tours too frequently these days. This also forms a drain on the public exchequer while not leading to proportionate advancement of the public interest in different sectors. With the ministers remaining absent often for long from the country, decision making suffers seriously. And even senior civil servants who are the favourite of their political bosses, are alleged to be doing the same in indulging in frequent unnecessary foreign visits at the expense of the public purse.
Indeed, these wasteful activities call for a review and corrective actions . Realization should dawn at the highest level of the government about the need for avoiding extravaganza.
Saiful Islam
Eskaton, Dhaka
But the extraordinary size of the Prime Minister's delegation also raised eyebrows. According to media reports, 101 persons went with the Prime Minister to New York and this was indeed a huge number compared to the tasks at hand. It was observed that the greater number of them really had no use for furthering in any mentionable way any of the objectives of the country. But they certainly enjoyed themselves from sight seeing, shopping and other entertainments.
It would not matter if they had borne even partly the costs of their travel and related expenditures. But entirely the costs of their travel and relatively luxurious upkeep was borne from the taxpayers' money of this one of the poorest countries on earth. And this where the conscience pinches. Why should people's money be allowed to be so wasted ? It sets a bad example about not observing austerity in the running of government in a country like Bangladesh which runs considerably on foreign loans and its people have to sacrifice a lot in debt servicing as these abilities are rising higher.
Whatever things were sought to be accomplished through this visit, could be well achieved through a far smaller but well selected number of experts, businessmen and professionals. In that case the visit would be considered as fully productive in promoting its goals but doing the same at least costs.
It is noted that Cabinet Ministers remain on foreign tours too frequently these days. This also forms a drain on the public exchequer while not leading to proportionate advancement of the public interest in different sectors. With the ministers remaining absent often for long from the country, decision making suffers seriously. And even senior civil servants who are the favourite of their political bosses, are alleged to be doing the same in indulging in frequent unnecessary foreign visits at the expense of the public purse.
Indeed, these wasteful activities call for a review and corrective actions . Realization should dawn at the highest level of the government about the need for avoiding extravaganza.
Saiful Islam
Eskaton, Dhaka