The onslaught must hit the real target—the mechanism that breeds corruption.

M Abdul Kabir

Not long ago, the idea of an objective and worthwhile anti-corruption drive was frowned upon given the impotence of the previous Bureau of Anti Corruption and the absence of good intentions of the earlier governments. Now such a crusade is going on, thanks to the present CTG’s laudable and moving initiatives. When the whole nation is eagerly waiting to see the outcome, however little promising it may be, of this daring drive, some influential quarters continue to insist on the administration to stop the campaign and release those captured. Clearly, this would be suicidal for the country should the government yield to their demand.

Let us hope that the efforts to bring the corrupt to justice will not lose momentum, no matter however exigent and risky the task is. One real force for the pioneers to persist in the just cause is the public and their boiling sense of loss they have suffered due to corruption and abuse of power. The vocal Supports from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) and Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) are also the weapon in the combat against corruption.

In the country’s history there has been no precedence that the corrupt powerful people can be put to trial. So at the advent of this mission common people’s perception was that the “big fish” would be out of the net. Fortunately, the view proved wrong. In this daringly inclusive drive immensely powerful people have been booked and produced before the court. This has reinforced the hope of a substantial change and the public is more willing to lend supports if asked for.
“Well begun is half done.” This saying is particularly elevating if one relates it with the current anti-graft drive. The fact that the Anti-Corruption Commission was revamped before the fight and that some much-needed institutional reforms in the judiciary, the EC and the PSC have been undertaken alongside, indicates what Aristotle would say a good start. When such a well orchestrated anti-corruption drive has been possible despite many odds, it is also possible to carry it on, in order to clean up the nation’s image as having a corrupt disposition.

In order to do so, the onslaught must hit the real target—the mechanism that breeds corruption. The oppressive British colonial rules still in action in the public administrations reject transparency, allowing authorities to “warm up” in the guarded walls. The excessive bureaucracy procrastinates service processing, letting rooms for inducement and bribery. Political ill-wills further worsen these settings.

It is often thought that corruption will run away if politics can be disinfected. However, with politicians predisposed not to change, only punitive actions to sterilize politics are not enough to heal corruption. We have yet to see the so called “people’s representatives” apologies, what they should have done long ago if they cared for people, before us for their acrimonious power struggles, for which the country has suffered an irrevocable loss. Rather, they are ready to deride this government, accuse it of harassment despite no proof in the affirmative, despite many members from their “clique” being convicted on charges of corruption. In the build-ups to the next general elections they even intimidate the government by slogans like “release … or face movements. “ It is they who are more or less going to be parts of the next government. And we do not know what they would do then.

So, hopes for instantly “clean politics” are thin. But we can take breaths on those crucial structural reforms in the judiciary and the EC which all the previously elected governments promised but failed to deliver. Similar reforms in the burdened public administrations, in the police would be the key. We have to bear it in mind that a weak, laden society cannot bestow a strong, benign government.

Our real hopes lie in the fact that we have at last come across a worthy model. What had not happened for good governance after 36 years of independence, happened in 2007. We must appreciate and treasure this legacy. From now on we must be watchful in order to check any ill attempt of undoing what have been done so far. If we can ward off such efforts in the future and press on the continuation of the legacy bestowed by this caretaker government, only then could our desire to clean up the crooked disposition of the society be realized.

(M Abdul Kabir;BSC.ETE ;NORTH SOUTH UNIVERSITY
Mobile: 01715078819)

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