This refers to Finance Minister's comment to root out corruption - the malady that has permeated all walks of life and does not seem to abate as years go by. He has identified the NBR, a government organ, as the most corrupted institution He also mentioned that corrution is our greatest shame and it's the barrier of our progress.
We need a leader to launch a movement to sensitise the people on fundamental issues and raise their moral standards to wage a relentless war against evils like corruption. The lure of easy money and the manner in which the corrupt flaunt their wealth tempt more and more to resort to corruption. Elections are fought not on the basis of ideologies but of money power. Lack of transparency and accountability in politics, government, and business encourages corruption to thrive. Like the President, if Parliament too becomes serious about rooting out corruption, simple and sure ways can easily be evolved and implemented.
It is unfortunate that a high-ranked minister has to draw our attention to the dreadful malady. Display boards in government offices asking people to inform the higher-ups in the event of any demand for gratification are common. Perhaps if the officials at the highest level interact personally with the people on such matters, they will overcome their inhibitions and be more forthcoming.
It is amusing for a normal citizen to read speeches on building a corruption-free Bangladesh by our President, Prime Minister and civil society members. From their exalted position, it is easy for them to dream of a Bangladesh where there is no corruption. For the common man, corruption is a day-to-day affair. For anyone travelling on a two-wheeler, the sight of traffic policemen stopping vehicles is common. Also common is the sight of people fishing out a few currency notes, and the police carrying them away in a polythene paper. This is not to say that we should stop dreaming.
Gopal Sengupta
Canada
E-mail : gopalsengupta@aol.com
Fighting corruption
FE Team | Published: November 03, 2010 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
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