|
No more corrupt politicos
Give ministers, MPs higher pay
and expect them to be honest
MI Ali
Of the things that are almost impossible to find in Bangladesh is something called a 'poor politician.' Politics in Bangladesh is the Aladdin's Lamp which makes a person rich overnight. No special skill or talent is required, but just an insatiable desire and greed to accumulate wealth using every opportunity that the political office the person is in has to offer. It is incorrect to say that no skill is required, in fact only one skill is required and that is to be shamelessly corrupt.
The Bangladeshi society has always tolerated corruption by politicians. And memory being short, the corrupt politicians of the previous regimes were treated as the rich and the famous by the people during subsequent regimes. The trick was to make money first through means fair and foul and buy respectability later, examples being the zamindars and business families of the British Raj, Muslim Leaguers of Pakistan days, Awami Leaguers of the post liberation days, etc.
Corruption by politicians and bureaucrats is nothing new, not many people would remember the three naught three (303) bureaucrats who were summarily dismissed from service for corruption after Ayub Khan seized power in the then Pakistan. All of Bangladeshi bureaucrats so dismissed were rehabilitated by the first Awami League government of independent Bangladesh and the story for them as far as the general public were concerned ended there.
We also know very little about how or among whom the houses and plots of land abandoned by fleeing Pakistanis in Gulshan, Banani and Dhanmandi were distributed by the Awami League government. One of course hopes that the Awami League did not fight the War of Liberation for their own sake, that is to replace the Pakistanis as the new ruling class in the newly independent country. Anyway, up till now, the corrupt politicians and bureaucrats, with the sole exception of HM Ershad, did not have to face the punitive consequences of their corruption and were always able to enjoy their ill begotten wealth.
This is the first time since Ayub Khan's now forgotten 303, the corrupt are being asked to face the consequences of their actions and a fed up nation is eagerly waiting to see that justice is done. However, will corruption end if all Jatiya Party, Awami League and BNP criminals are brought to books? Very unlikely, as politics offers boundless opportunities and after all we are all only mortals.
Justice is never easy and often the innocent are also required to pay a price. The eviction of the hawkers and slum dwellers is a case in point here. Politicians and crime lords have always used these innocent poor people to achieve their criminal objectives. They are the original source of corruption of the politicians. They set up slums by grabbing government lands and then charge rent from the poor to live there in inhuman conditions. They are ideal as criminal hideouts and for storing illegal arms and contraband goods. Slums are ideal recruiting grounds of future criminals and slum dwellers never complain.
We know that corruption starts at the top and the level can easily be identified, but where does it end? Where is the bottom? We must hold back our tears for the poor slum dwellers and the street hawkers and continue to destroy the bastions of the criminals so that they stay on the run as long as the caretaker government is in power. The government must set up alternate centres of employment, preferably in the monga affected areas where land is unproductive and unsuitable for year round agriculture and leave the fertile lands around Dhaka for agriculture.
Cut off from their sources of income, the politicians and criminals are now busy repairing their now disrupted nexus. The civil society leaders must not fall into the sympathy trap being set up by the corrupt and the criminals and urge the Caretaker Government to discontinue their clean up activities. It will not be long before they are able to strike again at our society and after all, we will be electing politicians again in the next elections and they too will only be mortals.
Historically Bangladeshis have tolerated a certain amount of corruption by their politicians; the union council chairman was expected to misuse some relief materials; the member of the Parliament was expected to make some deals, so on and so forth. These were however never very high in value and were normally used to meet the usual politics related expenditures. Unfortunately these days corruption has reached such proportions that it is now adversely affecting the economy and the people are no longer willing to accept it.
This is evident from the way the people have welcomed the present caretaker government, but the bottom line is that sooner or later, the business of running the country will have to be returned to the politicians and here is the all important question: those who are elected in future would they magically become honest? Only the most naive will believe so.
The fact is that politicians need money as businessmen need working capital and if the society does not give it to them, they will get it any way they can. Many countries, like Singapore for example, pay their elected officials compensation packages that are among the highest in the world. The Singaporean voters can rightfully demand their politicians to be honest, better educated and extremely efficient.
We now have this one opportunity to set things right and the list of things to be done should include, among other things, the size of the cabinet which should not exceed 15 members and their salaries and perks should not be less than that of the highest paid executives in the country's private sector. Similarly, appropriate compensation packages for other elected officials can also be formulated.
Cognizance must be taken of the fact that politicians do perform an important job and their needs should also be taken care of. If the politicians are adequately paid for the posts they hold, then and only then can we expect them to be honest. And, in any event, it is going to cost infinitely less than the one to three per cent of the GDP that corruption (as variously been estimated) is costing the nation today.
 ^ TOP OF THIS PAGE ^ MAIN PAGE
Contentious deals: CG should
step cautiously
Faruque Ahmed
While the people have welcomed the reformist interim caretaker government which aims at bringing about far-reaching changes in the composition and functions of major institutions and organs, its handling of major economic issues is yet to be put on test. The country needs more time so that the interim government can deliver the best of its wisdom by way of restructuring the traditional politics into a knowledge-based rational one, free from the hand of corrupt and greedy political elements. But the question that worry the public mind is whether this government has enough time and energy to engage in major decision-making process on the economic front. Another question that may come up is whether this government has the authority to engage itself in economic decision-making.
Ovservers tend to suggest that the CG should better leave these matters for the elected government. Important among them are decisions on major foreign direct investment proposals (FDI), corporatisation of the state-owned banks, approval of the draft coal policy to open bidding for new coal mines, opening of the third phase of the gas field bidding or the privatisation of Chittagong Port etc.
There is no timeframe in sight when the election will take place and the next government will be in place to take up these issues. Along with it comes the question as to how long will the country go without taking decisions on these matters causing frustrations among investors. Or how best will the future government be able to accomplish these tasks in the interest of the nation without indulging in petty politics of trade unions leaders and other vested interest groups within the political establishments.
Some people may say that no problem is visible in it. In fact, the government has already taken the move for corporatisation of the state-run banks such as Sonali, Agrani and Janata banks. It may also take up the port issue very soon. But the question is not with the beginning of the process, what is at issue is how best can it be accomplished by upholding the people's interest on the top and at the same time keeping the broad-based political support behind it of parties now lingering in disarray in the sideline.
There is the TATA issue, for example in hand. Its country director Syed Manzar Hussein met the energy adviser last week. Although he said it was a courtesy call, he talked about his concern about the need for a quick decision. They are reportedly pressurising the government with the belief that it is a good time to get a 'positive' decision. But will the political establishments support such decision at a time when the country is busy resettling political crisis and rearranging many other important institutions. Moreover, there is a need for a great deal of transparency and involvement of stakeholders at different level in such decision by way of allowing open discussions. Will it be possible or is it a suitable time to pursue the critical issues?
Referring to some recent incidents in neighbouring West Bengal, an observer said that the local people at Singore are opposing the setting up of a Tata car manufacturing plant on the ground that their cropland is more valuable than cars. A political establishment is supporting the movement and the powerful Marxist west Bengal government has so far proved helpless in resolving the issue. At Nandigram, another location in the state, people are equally opposing the setting up of an industrial park over a 350-acre land. At least seven people were reported killed and at least 20 others injured since 7 January in continuing violence there.
Again the argument is that they are opposed to sacrificing cropland for industrialisation, which creates fortune for wealthy people. TATA is demanding 2,000 acres of land in Bangladesh for its steel plant alone. How can one make a comparison between the two.
Similar situation happened at Fulbaria in Dinajpur district in northwest Bangladesh. Here an activist group successfully evicted the Asia Energy Ltd, a UK firm working on a feasibility and coalmine exploration project. The firm had valid exploration document but some groups were able to muster popular support in favour of a movement against it to finally force it out of the area, at least for the time being.
What all that means is that not only official decisions are enough, enough political backing behind any such decision is required. Otherwise, it may boomerang only to complicate the situation to deal with later on. Observers wonder if the nation is going to face such a paradoxical situation in the days to come.
^ TOP OF THIS PAGE ^ MAIN PAGE
Foreign media canard
People want a change, but
conspiracy is rife
Sadeq Khan
The Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Moean U. Ahmed has been holding select audiences with cross-sections of people in cantonments or project sites he was required to visit on official duty. His purpose is to dispel an undercurrent of public impression that there has been a military take-over of state power. That impression has been buttressed by reverberation in vernacular newspapers of a string of adverse reports in the foreign media about the proclamation of state of emergency in Bangladesh.
A number of news-analysts belonging to the foreign correspondents' club in New Delhi made long-distance coverage of the situation in Bangladesh and filed damming reports in the world media. They variously suggested that there has been a coup "that dare not speak its name," that the situation in Bangladesh "Rhymes with Afghanistan" and that Islamists "within the armed forces" want to prolong the state of emergency for an indefinite period. They quoted "experts" to suggest that with the military in power, Islamists will occupy important positions in the government, and Bangladesh will become the "regional hub of terrorism." One story went on to say that if the NATO forces fighting the Teleban "get a grip on the radicals in Afghanistan and Pakistan, then they'll land in Bangladesh."
The propaganda barrage, as any foreign visitor may find on landing in Bangladesh, is patently amiss. Those occupying "important positions" in the caretaker government have impeccable track records in national and international civil service and in corporate bodies of the private sector. The chief adviser of the caretaker government, Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed in a public address firmly expressed the commitment of the administration to keep the nation free from the jaws of divisive forces, religious or social and to uphold "freedom of thought" and accommodation of "progressive ideas." He specifically declared: "We are determined to carry on operation against international extremism and terrorism. In this regard, our activities at home and abroad are guided by internationally recognised rules and principles and values. Our government is committed to properly following the guidelines of the United Nations and strengthening UN principles.
"We want to go ahead on the democratic path keeping good relations with all countries on the basis of sovereign equality, giving appropriate importance to regional cooperation."
Unlike Afghanistan, or even unlike Kashmir and Asom in India, there is hardly any blister of tension anywhere in Bangladesh as the civil and military cooperation in law-enforcement is running smoothly in restoring good order. The military is least visible on the streets of Dhaka or any other major city of Bangladesh. The "foreign correspondents" in New Delhi and the "experts" in London and Washington appear to have let their imagination run wild in their speculations about Bangladesh fast becoming a "failed state."
Lt. General Moean U. Ahmed made it abundantly clear that the military is only obeying orders of the President and the Commander-in-Chief of Bangladesh in taking joint actions with civil authorities against anti-social elements, against corruption and criminalisation of politics and trade, and against fanatics engaged in terrorism. He pointed out: "No martial law exists. The President has declared emergency under a compelling situation.
"The armed forces are only assisting the civil administration...we all in the civil administration and the army are carrying out our respective responsibilities."
The army chief also proudly asserted that Bangladesh has been steering its statecraft in a democratic course following its own pathfinder signals and has not been swayed by foreign guidance. He said "All of us have to work with a zeal of patriotism. We have to identify our problems and find out ways to resolve those ourselves, not on alien prescriptions, to turn the country a Sonar Bangla.
"We were victorious in 1971. We have faced cyclones and tidal bores with courage and fortitude. We will be able to resolve the problems with our united efforts."
In respect of the time-frame of state of emergency, it might be relevant to quote a comment made by the US ambassador Patricia Butenis in a recent press briefing. She said: "My sense by just reading all newspapers is that people do not want to return to power fixed as usual. They want a change." It is for that change, and for electoral and political reforms on which broad consensus exists professedly amongst all the political war-lords in this country, that the citizens are now ready to give the caretaker administration necessary time to complete their task.
^ TOP OF THIS PAGE ^ MAIN PAGE
Good governance, election
environment top priority: CG
A R Khan
Although major political parties like BNP and Awami League are in a defensive position over the recent arrest of political leaders, the internal pressure is mounting for an announcement to hold the suspended general elections in a quickest possible time. Diplomats are also talking in this line.
Both BNP and Awami League mentioned it cautiously; the public tolerance is limited and unnecessary delay in holding the elections could backfire. Professor Yunus's desire to join politics even at the cost of leaving the Nobel co-receipient Grameen Bank has reaffirmed the notion that politics is more lucrative than a Nobel Prize.
However, the Chief adviser, and the Advisers on different occasions made it clear that they do not want an election for the sake of election only. It should be fair, free from corruption and criminal influence and should be credible and acceptable to all. So the interim caretaker government was yet to fix their mind about the timeframe. As their present task, they want to create a congenial atmosphere.
Meanwhile, many were wondering how far the issue of eviction, drive against stocking commodities, adjusting the petroleum price, privatization of port and negotiations with TATA were directly related to election matter.
The Chief Adviser of the interim caretaker government, Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed on Thursday, however, mentioned its present activities as positive initiatives for the betterment politics, economy and the society as a whole.
In his first addressing to the field level officials, the Chief Adviser said that the present government initiated various programmes to create a congenial atmosphere and a good governance which was a pre-requisite for accomplishing their priority task - holding a free, fair and credible election in the country.
The Chief Adviser mentioned that the government had initiated certain basic and structural reforms to strengthen the election commission and the foundation of democracy. The aim is to restore the tradition of honest and dedicated politics by suppressing the evil influence of corruption, muscle power, black money and terrorism on politics.
The Chief Adviser pointed out that it was a demand of the time to establish good governance at field level and the officials must fulfill the need to keep themselves free from the influence of individual, group or political powers.
He also recognised that the field officials were playing an important role in the countrywide drive against corrupt persons, dishonest traders, black money holders and notorious criminals. Corruption and criminal activities by some people, endless greed and plundering of public wealth not only created social disparity but also polluted politics and retarded the economy, the Chief Adviser said adding that the law enforcing agencies must engage all efforts and work without any fear against such corrupt people.
He also mentioned that the present government was determined to keep the market situation within the tolerable limit and it was essential to keep the supply normal. He asked the law enforcing agencies to take proper actions against the dishonest traders, take extra effort for proper proceedings of the cases but remain cautious against unnecessary harassment of the genuine businessmen.
Meanwhile, Divisional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners were instructed to hold meetings with the business leaders and coordinate the activities of the law enforcing agencies in case of any crisis situation.
He asked the officials to remain vigilant so that there was no dislocation in supply and transportation of fertiliser to the farmers.
Referring to ongoing eviction drive, the Chief Adviser asked the administration to remain alert so that poor and working people were not hurt and no innocent citizen was victimised.
^ TOP OF THIS PAGE ^ MAIN PAGE
US at it, once again!
Mumtaz Iqbal
With all the certitude of the Pavlovian conditional reflex, the sole superpower is once again playing at one of its favourite games. Which is to blast anybody that doesn't toe Washington's line in what invariably is a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black.
The latest example was on display on Sunday 11 February in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone, the only safe place at present in that blighted capital.
At a press conference, three unidentified US military officials-a senior officer, a defence analyst and explosives expert-accused the highest levels of the Iranian government of complicity in supplying deadly armour-piercing explosives and other weapons to Shiite militias to attack US and Iraqi forces (underscoring supplied).
Note that Sunnis have been the backbone of Iraqi resistance so far. The reference to Shias is to stoke Sunni fears about the so-called arc of Shia influence. Good old divide and rule policy of imperialists irrespective of nationality!
As evidence, the officials displayed mortar shells, rocket-propelled grenades and a powerful cylindrical bomb that could pierce the armour of tanks and armoured Humvees. The last item-called exquisitely but opaquely "explosively formed penetrator" or EFP-required machining skills and capabilities that they stated didn't exist in Iraq and inferred they were done in Iran.
Tehran's Quds force, an elite unit of the Revolutionary Guard reportedly controlled by the supreme religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei, was blamed for using Iraqi smugglers to transfer the weapons into Iraq.
Both the manner and content of presentation, apart from other issues, raise interesting questions.
It's intriguing that the three American defense officials were not identified by rank or name. This reticence makes it impossible to determine the degree of importance to be attached to the briefing. If the leader of the three-member team was less than a two or three star general-a four star general heads the Baghdad command-how seriously one should take such a grave accusation is open to question.
The other obvious aspect was that there was not a single official from Washington or from the intelligence agencies such as the CIA. This would seem to imply that the press briefing was an initiative of the Iraq command with at best tepid consent of higher-ups.
This seems difficult to swallow in the context of the extraordinarily high level of tense relations between Tehran and Washington. A more charitable explanation is that the press conference is an escalation of the war of nerves waged at various levels between these two capitals.
Just as the US spokesmen hinted at the involvement of the highest levels of Iranian authorities, is it any less credible to suggest that the Baghdad presentation was approved by very high quarters in the US administration?
If this assumption has validity, then is the real aim to prepare the ground for contemplating and taking stronger action including a preemptive air strike singly or Jointly with Israelis against Tehran? The prime target of the press briefing is the War-weary, even anti-war, US public soured by the Iraq experience. While one can't be sure, one can't categorically rule out this possibility. After all, Bush is in a real pickle over Iraq, facing an unfriendly US public and Congress that's not prepared to be hoodwinked any further by his parrot-like assertion that the US will not cut and run.
But how to extricate the US honorably from the Iraq misadventure that has deeply scarred his legacy is a contentious problem facing Bush that defies any easy solution. His gamble of sending another 25,000 US troops may provide a temporary cocoon of security to battered Baghdad.
But if this result is accomplished with a large even dramatic increase in US casualties, then it's questionable whether the US public is willing to swallow this outcome. One can speculate that the reference to the Iranian "supply pipeline" is meant to inoculate domestic opinion against precisely such an eventuality.
The ground is being prepared for the contention that but for Iranian "interference," the security situation in Baghdad is containable and could be contained. Pointing the finger at a "hostile" external entity is standard US operating procedure.
In Vietnam, the US, like the French, blamed like clockwork Hanoi, Beijing and Moscow for its failure to contain the forces of Vietnamese nationalism.
As in Iraq, the US was the invader in Vietnam. Johnson used the excuse of the infamous 1965manufactured Gulf of Tongking naval attack to expand the war in Vietnam. Bush used the WMD scare tactic to attack Iraq.
It's the right indeed obligation of any country willfully aggressed to resist the invader. That's what the Iraqis have done. So did the Vietnamese.
Iraqi resistance variously described as manned by dead-enders, Saddam loyalist and al-Qaeda operatives by US top officials has displayed impressive staying power and capability of improving its weapons technological skills. Technology like money is fungible and is available for reasons of ideology, self-interest or cash.
The technology used by Iraqi resistance is fairly well developed and widely as well as readily available in the anti-US Middle East conflict zones of Lebanon and Occupied Palestine. Tehran is not the only source of such skills or weaponry. Besides, the Iraqis like other people can be quick and avid learners where their national honour is at stake.
It's the Iraqis, not Iranians or other nationalities, who are at the forefront of resistance and are doing the dying. The same was true in Vietnam. Vietnamese gunners using Chinese artillery destroyed the French garrison at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. The USSR- supplied SAM missiles that destroyed US warplanes were fired by locals, not Soviets who may have trained them.
There is fairly widespread agreement that Bush is not very brainy. But if the Baghdad press conference is a shot aimed at the mullahs in Iran--who as fundamentalists paradoxically are closer to the born-again evangelist that is the US president -to dilute or erase the stain on his legacy, then this is a measure of Bush's desperation. It would not be illogical to question his sanity.
The author is a free lancer.
^ TOP OF THIS PAGE ^ MAIN PAGE
Supreme Court restores accreditation
of Assam's NETV
Nava Thakuria in Guwahati
It is incredible but true that the organiser of a national sporting event could think of boycotting a media house. Even the publicity department of the organising committee asked to return the press accreditation cards, already issued to the media persons belonging to the media group for covering the important sporting event. The final outcome was a big slap from the apex court of the country to the organisers, who intended to stop the press.
It happened during the 33rd National Games, presently going on in Guwahati of Northeast India. The organizers of the event discovered an unusual way to insult NE Television, a Guwahati-based private satellite channel. Media and Publicity Committee of 33rd National Games, Guwahati ordered the channel to 'return the issued accreditation cards' immediately. "It is hereby notified that in view of the Assam Olympic Association's formal decision to boycott NETV from covering the 33rd National Games, the media and publicity committee hereby cancels accreditation cards issued to NETV with immediate effect."
The 33rd event of India's National Games began with a spectacular show at Indira Gandhi Stadium in Guwahati on February 9. Over ten thousand sports persons and officials from different parts of the country participated in various categories of events. Mrs Sonia Gandhi formally inaugurated the mega event in presence of nearly 30,000 spectators at a glittering ceremony showcasing the cultural heritage of Assam or Asom.
The only satellite channel of Northeast that claiming to telecast live news bulletin in various local languages of the region including Asomiya, Bengali, Manipuri, Nagamese, Mizo, Tripuri, Bodo, Karbi, Dimasa, Kuki besides Hindi, English and Nepalese was in media headlines following the threat it received from the banned United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA). The armed outfit intimidated the channel that it must leave Asom, if it could not substantiate a news item, where it was reported that ULFA took money from Asom government to remain silent during the National Games.
ULFA, in last November imposed a boycott on the Games, but later withdrew the call. In a statement on February 4, the ULFA chief Arabinda Rajkhowa revealed that they had decided to respond positively after listening to a call by some prominent sportspersons of yesteryears and also keeping in mind of hundred thousand sport loving people of the state. Earlier in an email release on November 18, Mr Rajkhowa himself asked the sports persons of the country not to participate in the sporting event 'so long as the Asom-India conflict is not resolved' politically.
The state government, however, maintained its stand to organise the games on schedule despite the boycott call. The government led by Tarun Gogoi however appealed to the ULFA leaders repeatedly for the withdrawal of the boycott call. Meanwhile, ULFA invited strong resentment and anger from different sections in the Asomiya society. A group of Guwahati-based journalists appealed to the people of Asom to defy the diktat of ULFA and also help joining the games as a challenge. Following the mounting pubic demands, the outfit compelled to soften its stand and argued for renaming the event as 'Asom Sports Festival' (in return of its support).
Before resolving the issue, the state chief minister Mr Gogoi triggered off the NE Television controversy with a formal declaration that his government would file a case against the channel for reporting on an alleged understanding between the government and the ULFA leaders. Mr Gogoi's version was almost echoed in the mouth of the ULFA military chief Paresh Baruah, when he threatened the channel to prove the allegation within one month to avoid dire consequences. "Otherwise they (NE Television) must pack up from Asom," cautioned Mr Baruah through a statement, released to local media houses.
Responding to the issue, NE Television's Manoranjana Sinha upheld the spirit of the news saying, "My channel and I will continue to insist that there is an understanding between the Congress and the ULFA, and thus between the State Government and the ULFA."
The threat to NE television was responded strongly by the local journalist bodies as well as International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). The Press Council of India (PCI) too stepped into the episode and said in a statement that ULFA's notice to NE television 'constitutes a grave threat to the freedom of the press, prompting it to take action under the Press Council (Procedure for Inquiry) regulations'. The autonomous body initiated a suo moto move to request the authorities to take appropriate measures to counter the militants' threat. PCI asked a detailed report on the ULFA threats from the chief secretary of Assam. The Editors Guild of India also joined criticizing the attitude of ULFA, where a protest meeting in Guwahati Press Club on February 2 condemned the threat to the channel.
When, condemnations against the threat to NE television were poured from media related bodies and everyone asked the authority to ensure the security of the channel, Assam Olympic Association (AOA) had an innovative idea to antagonise NE Television. Led by the chief minister Gogoi himself, the association boycotted the channel before the National Games. Arguing on behalf of the boycott, Gogoi declared that they did not require the coverage NE Television (meaning other media houses had enough space for that). One may not find suitable answer while analysing the version of chief minister.
"It reflects either his (chief minister Gogoi) total ignorance about the role of media or unwarranted arrogance that cannot be tolerated in the largest democracy on the globe," said Prakash Mahanta, general secretary of Journalists Action Committee, Asom. He also added, "We had never heard such an incident, where a Games committee could boycott a media group. The repressive outlook of the committee towards media is outrightly condemnable." Saurav Kumar Borah, the general secretary of Assam Sports Journalists Association also criticized the move of the committee and termed it as 'totally undemocratic'.
However, intervening in the episode, the Supreme Court on February 9, the inaugural day of the games, directed the state government to restore the accreditation facilities for the media persons of NE Television. A Bench of Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice D K Jain stayed the order of the organising committee (on February 6) with an aim to prevent the channel from covering the biggest sporting event of the country. Finally the verdict of the apex court compelled the media and publicity committee of the Games to withdraw the divisive order to pave way for the media persons of NE Television to cover the event.
^ TOP OF THIS PAGE ^ MAIN PAGE
Will anti-graft move help end corruption?
Fazle Rashid in New York
The caretaker government the other day made Bangladesh a signatory to an anti-graft UN resolution. If the signing of the resolution is an expression of government's commitment to stamp out corruption from the country then it is perfect. But this is unlikely to scale down corruption. Corruption has become endemic the world over. It has not spared organization like the UN or hitherto unimpeachable institutions like the American Red Cross or FEMA or such highly regimented countries like China and Russia.
However, it is not the purpose of this piece to discourage the current drive against graft and rent seeking in Bangladesh. This is a laudable venture. Corruption, graft and rent seeking will take a temporary leave from Bangladesh but would again creep in at an opportune moment. A fierce debate, it seems, is raging in the country on the government's drive against graft and the harsh punishments appended thereto.
Two Bangla dailies in Dhaka are vocal against rampant corruption during the previous political government have built their own edifices through money earned by illegal means. The financial sources of the newspaper with 'holier than thou' public postures should also come under close scrutiny. Two political stalwarts, Saber Hossain Chowdhury and Hasanul Huq Inu made frontal attack against BNP and bemoaned the fact that their leaders are also being detained along with corrupt BNP leaders to strike a balance. Do Saber Chowdhury and Inu want the people to believe that all their leaders are incorruptible, sages and savants? Do they remember the manner in which air force planes and naval vessels were procured at a much higher price ignoring the more competitive offers made by other parties? Government lands were grabbed in Uttara, apartments of individuals were forcibly occupied by an MP, these are some random examples of corruption coming to mind now.
The bureaucrats, surprisingly, have not been affected by the anti-corruption drive. The politicians have been made the targets. Many bureaucrats had their palms greased heavily when they were in office. One civil servant during a talk show on a TV channel wriggled out each time he was confronted with the question of public servants accepting illegal gratification. He came out with regulations that would make corruption impossible either by the politicians or the civil servants.
Stringent rules do exist. In addition to this there is overseeing by the donors of the projects funded by them. Yet then corruption is galore in Bangladesh. This is a grim reality, which cannot be ignored. There are compelling reasons to make this scribe a pessimist. Here are some glimpses of corruption worldwide collated by this scribe from the February 14 issue of the New York Times.
The US lawmakers of the House Foreign Affairs Committee have requested Cyprus to hand over Benon Savan who supervised the UN sponsored oil for food programme in Iraq. He has been charged for accepting $160,000 as bribe from Saddam Hossain to allow him a leeway to do anything with the money, which was specifically earmarked for buying food and medicine.
Taiwan's opposition leader Ma Ying -jeou who was widely tipped to win the coming presidential election has been charged with misappropriating $339,000 when he was Mayor of Taipei. He has pleaded guilty but said it was done inadvertently. The wife, son-in-law and close aides of the current President of Taiwan Chen Shui-bian are under investigations for their involvement in corruption.
A shareholder of a Philadelphia investment company who was defrauded killed three officials of the company before turning the gun on to himself.
Kyle Foggo, a former executive director of CIA, was charged for wire fraud, conspiracy, money laundering, making trips abroad and taking gifts paid for by a friend, a contractor. Foggo in return gave him lucrative contracts. In the same case Randy Cunnigham, a former member of the House of Representative is serving an eight-year prison term for accepting more than $2 million in cash and gifts from a contractor for helping him to win lucrative businesses.
In Nigeria the vice-president has been included in the list of corrupt persons who would be debarred from taking part in the coming election. There are plenty more.
^ TOP OF THIS PAGE ^ MAIN PAGE
Entry of Yunus into politics favoured
Taj Hashmi
Since Dr Muhammad Yunus has written an open letter to all Bangladeshi nationals, I assume both at home and abroad, I am writing this responding to his letter seeking our opinion if he should join politics and float his own political party. It would be an audacity on my part to dissuade him from joining politics or organizing his own political party. Not only is he entitled to do so but also because of his enviable credentials. He is most definitely a very competent person, a wonderful organizer, entrepreneur par excellence, and above all, renowned and influential both within and outside Bangladesh.
Despite my serious reservations about micro-credit, the honest professor's pet project, being glorified and touted as "microfinance" by mega agents of finance capital as the panacea for poverty, I would have welcomed Dr Yunus in the arena of Bangladesh politics as the country badly needs honest and sincere people at the helm of the statecraft. I have absolutely no reservations about his lack of political experience. He would be most definitely a million times better than both the experienced and inexperienced crooked ones running the polity since1971. My only reservation is about his would be political associates.
I am sure immediately after his joining politics and floating his own political party, scores of politicians, intellectuals, retired civil and military bureaucrats and members of the civil society would be joining him, apparently with a view to creating a corruption free Bangladesh. I am, however, very skeptical about the intrinsic quality of most politicians and retired bureaucrats, who would outnumber intellectuals and members of the civil society in your political party. You will have to be extremely lucky to get even ten per cent honest, sincere and patriotic elements in the politician-(civil-military) bureaucrat nexus. And as you know, due to various socio-economic reasons, intellectuals and so-called civil society members no longer represent people with impeccable character, honesty and integrity. Many (if not most) of them represent and support this or that political parties, mainly out of the wrong reasons.
So, what I apprehend would happen is that within a few months of floating your political party, mainly with politicians and retired bureaucrats (at least 90 percent of them are corrupt or potentially corrupt); your party would not be any different from party X or party Y. And you would lose your popularity, tarnish your image and would soon be turned into another member of the club run by people with insatiable greed and desire to rob the country through the game of politics.
If you believe that free and fair elections and democracy can get rid of corruption, inefficiency and the perpetual state of chaos, which often drags the country to the verge of total anarchy, I have nothing to advise you. Personally, I do not believe that democratically elected governments run by corrupt and inefficient politicians who would always remain dominant in any elected government would bring peace, progress and prosperity to Bangladesh. As we are witnessing today, even an unelected, non-political Caretaker Government under Dr Fakhruddin cannot contain corruption despite all its efforts and good intentions, you would simply be another failure in this regard if you try to right the wrong through so-called democracy or by floating a political party.
Since the bulk of the population are not averse to electing thieves, robbers, murderers and godfathers and have no qualms about selling their votes to them, how do you think you would ever win elections to form a government with honest and efficient people? Eventually, I am afraid Dr Yunus, you would have to accommodate known criminals, bank defaulters, murderers, smugglers and godfathers (too many and too risky to name them) in your party.
I have got two suggestions for you: a) create a pressure group with intellectuals, students and working class people so that the present Caretaker Government take drastic action against all the corrupt elements, arrest hundreds of Raghab Boals and Rui-Katla, beyond this paltry number of twenty-odd politicians; and b) ask the government to appoint you as the Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission.
You once envied Justice Sultanuddin on his becoming the Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission in 2005. You thought containing and eliminating corruption in Bangladesh was the easiest job on earth. I still remember your figurative expression that "one needs to lie down under the tree and corrupt elements like ripe fruits would drop into one's mouth". Please takeover as the Chairman of the ACC. If you want I can write an open letter to President Iajuddin Ahmed and Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed to appoint you as the Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission. If you can eliminate corruption at every level, Bangladesh does not need a government by a Nobel Laureate like yourself for prosperity, growth and development.
^ TOP OF THIS PAGE ^ MAIN PAGE
|
