Tackling corruption

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Every day, without fail, on opening any daily newspaper, one comes across news about corruption, in various forms and of varying amounts and types, happening all over the country. Like it or not, we are prone to corruption at all levels. It has become an epidemic; infecting the character of a large number of our people; in various strata of service. It is present whenever there is some type of official permission or approval is needed; which should normally be given routinely.
Unfortunately, we are tackling the problem in a wrong manner; going from bottom up, rather than from top down; to be really effective. But who will bell the 'Top Cats'? They are the high-profile wheelers and dealers who are usually sitting in their proverbial 'Ivory Towers'. They are cleverer than any four-legged variety of cats and are really cunning. They are prowling like tigers, looking for opportunities.
We are feebly trying to shake this firm and well-rooted mature 'Tree of Corruption' at the ground level. Hence, only dried and dead leaves sometimes fall. The big juicy fruits are all there on top; ripening and getting tastier; piling on 'the goodies'! Palm greasing, influence peddling or just expediting routine matters, are the usual 'modus-operandi'.
Routine matters are delayed; wherever there is a smell of potential possibility for 'goodies'. Things are then done when lubricated; otherwise it is left to 'idle and gather dust'; in the vast labyrinth of layered bureaucracy. Here occurs 'many a slip' between the proverbial cup and the lips. These 'slips' are the potential sources of 'goodies' for the opportunistic 'tip takers'.
Small wonder then, that there is no end to corruption. While we make much publicised hue and cry about 'small frys' getting nabbed, the 'Whales of Tip Takers' carry on ruling the waves; in the large "Sea of Corruption"; that engulfs Bangladesh!
SA Mansoor
Dhaka