Greasing the palm
Much is being said and done (?) about reducing the levels of graft-- an epidemic in Bangladesh! Definitely resisting graft is our moral fight, as reported by your Satkhira correspondent on 23rd March.
A timely response to any grievance or clarification from the authorities is also our moral right and the authorities' moral and physical duty.
But here enters procrastination that gives birth to the need for "graft": a tonic to speed up things from table to table in our over-manned bureaucracy. This has become the continuing infection across the spectrum of the administration.
This underlying cause of graft has unfortunately not been addressed by the caretaker government over the last one year. Without eliminating this primary infection, the steps being taken are preventive, but definitely not curative.
It is a chronic, dangerous infection in our administration. Greasing the palm is the most effective antibiotic against this chronic disease in this country. Procrastination and graft are synonymous; and none can remove graft without eliminating procrastination. That is a fact of life.
Had there been no procrastination, there would not be any need for graft. Hence it is popularly called “speed money"! Take Rajuk, as an example.
They are past masters in creating obstructions and hurdles.
Every department that is there comes up with its own reasons for delay in completing a task. No wonder palm greasing is a way of work at this august institution.
Without eliminating such age-old procrastination practices, there is no way that graft can be controlled. It is there, if not in cash, then in kind.
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