Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League is now in power for the fourth straight term. In her (Sheikh Hasina) electoral pledges in the last four national polls, she always vowed to show zero tolerance for corruption, ensure service-oriented and accountable administration, and put more focus on infrastructure development.
She always sounds a note of warning that her government would never tolerate corruption and all would have to be held responsible for their deeds, and all have to deliver. However, we have noticed that Sheikh Hasina several times expressed her dismay over the irregularities, mismanagement, corruption, and inordinate delay in completing development projects.
Sheikh Hasina, daughter of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, noted that although some of the accused officials involved in the irregularities have already retired, but those officials would not be spared and thus would be brought to book under the Public Demands Recovery (PDR) Act.
The latest incident of corruption and misdeeds allegedly indulged in by the former Army Chief General Aziz Ahmed and former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed, raised brows about whether corruption and irregularities have engulfed the government organisations. Is the organised gang in nexus with a section of officials and staff still engaged in harassing and humiliating the job-seekers in many ways every day?
We believe Sheikh Hasina is brave to bring corrupt people to justice. On the other hand, Sheikh Hasina is well-known as an honest politician at home and abroad and there is no room to raise questions about her honesty and integrity. All must keep it in mind that development must not be affected in any way because of graft.
A section of government officials
and employees are allegedly still
indulging in corruption and taking
bribes from the service-seekers
As per Sheikh Hasina’s directive, the authorities concerned must punish those who are responsible for the alleged irregularities and deviations from the rules and regulations. The government should be fair to every area of the country so that there is no injustice to any area considering development work.
But the fact is that a section of government officials and employees are allegedly still indulging in corruption and taking bribes from the service-seekers. This grim scenario prevails in all service sectors across the country under the very nose of the authorities concerned.
The officials and employees who do not perform their duties are also corrupt like those who indulge in corruption and take bribes. Taking bribes is very easy for those (officials) who have no dignity self-respect.
Apart from these, the implementation of many development projects are facing challenges due to delay, alleged irregularities and mismanagement. A project should be completed within the means of its expected duration and budget plans. The officials concerned of all ministries, departments and different development projects will have to work with utmost sincerity and honesty to further speed up the work. Importance should be attached on keeping transparency of works and preventing waste of public exchequer in the projects. The top government officials must keep more vigil against corruption so that this menace does not affect the country's development in any way.
Top bureaucrats like the senior secretaries and secretaries of various ministries and divisions will also have to issue directives to their colleagues up to the grassroots level about graft and make them aware in this regard. We believe corruption will be reduced automatically if people become aware against corruption.
We also believe the government will show its tough stance against corruption and must ensure exemplary punishment to the corrupt individuals, whoever he might be. Therefore, the continuous development in the socio-economic sector and growing participation of Bangladesh in the international arena will brighten the country’s image.
