Clicky
Editorial

Bribery is a part of the system

Oust corrupt officials


Bangladeshpost
Published : 05 Mar 2022 08:30 PM

Some national dailies and portal newspaper on Saturday ran a story headlined “I don't take bribe alone, It is a part of the system”. Alamgir Miagh Chowdhury, a deputy assistant land officer at Bholakut union parishad under Nasirnagar upazila in Brahmanbaria District, addressed bribe-taking as a “part of the system”, saying the bribe money is distributed among his seven senior officers including assistant commissioner land.

Alamgir Miagh Chowdhury explained the bribe-taking as “money for work”, showing a taka five hundred note, he said he would get taka two hundred and rest taka 300 would be distributed among his other colleagues including senior ones. He always asks the service seekers to come for a settlement with him instead of running after the proper channel.  


The government should launch 

a crackdown against corrupt 

officials and staff immediately


This grim scenario has also been prevailing at most of the union land offices across the country for a long time as the people usually do not get service from union land assistant officer commonly known as Nayeb without bribe.

Reaffirming her government’s tough stance against corruption and irregularities, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina repeatedly issued a strong warning against graft  taking by field-level administrations. We are yet to get rid of the menace of corruption, irregularities and mismanagement as no stern action has been taken against the corrupt officials at the grassroots level.

It has been noticed since long that the service seekers who live in rural area are being harassed and humiliated in many ways by the deputy assistant land officer when they go to the union land office to pay the land development tax or other land related work. We are stunned why there should be corrupt practices when the government enhanced the salaries, allowances and other fringe benefits of the public servants significantly. 

Corruption at union land offices must stop immediately.  Land officials involved in corruption and irregularities must not be spared. The Government wants to build a skilled, pro-service -oriented and accountable local administration which will accelerate the development of the country. But corrupt officials are jeopardising the government efforts.

It is imperative to root out corruption once for all to help the country achieve its avowed goal for the benefits of all people. The government should never tolerate this (corruption), all will be held responsible for their own duties, and all have to perform their duties properly. 

The government should launch a crackdown against its corrupt officials and staff immediately. Apart from the authorities and anti-graft watchdog, the cabinet members, lawmakers, public representatives and noted personalities irrespective of parties and opinions will have to work in unison to stamp-out corruption from the society as early as possible.