Combating corruption
The methods and practices of corruption (used in a wider sense) in Bangladesh have apparently been undergoing changes in qualitative, quantitative and other terms, besides the continuation of old methods and practices - where feasible - relative to time space and other variables. The questions now are: Are those developments in the domain of corruption being triggered and guided by the doctrine of necessity or the principle of survival of the fittest (in a sense) or a change in the phase of corruption cycle or otherwise - under the present day changed circumstances? Will those developments lead to eventual repositioning of corruption - as a modified product with a new look - in the market of Bangladesh and elsewhere? What will be the future of corruption and anti-corruption in Bangladesh, per se?
For dealing with above and other related questions, there is a perceived need for all concerned to accelerate and sustain - on a continuous basis - research and monitoring in pertinent areas and implementing anti-corruption measures, as required, as the part of a grand strategy for containing corruption in Bangladesh. At this point in time, I am not aware of any comprehensive grand strategy on anti-corruption in the country.
There are, at present - things - in the air and on the ground as for example, the cause of present day corruption. A few of them are presented below, relative to time, space and other variables:
1. The entry of new actors into the country's corruption market is being increasingly felt. They - representing various sections of the society (used in a wider sense) - are apparently deriving their power from the present day changed circumstances, for example. One of the underlying assumptions here is - those new actors are probably filling up gaps of some of the old ones who are at present in jail.
2. Old practices are also in vogue such as, the collection of 70 taka per working day from roadside coconut sellers - I wrote about it in one of my previous articles in the national dailies.
3. Government employees or officials or both who deal with say, pay and audit matters of employees or officials or both of the present day powerful government organisations are perhaps engaged in using their official connections with staff members of those powerful organisations in pursuit of for example, protecting their relations - whether or not blood relations - and others from corruption related consequences or hiding corruption related ramifications from the public scrutiny, per se.
The last word: let us intensify and sustain anti-corruption drives in areas like income-expenditure profile of government servants; pay them (I mean, the government servants) wages and salaries on the basis of inter alia their respective job worth to be determined via a proper job evaluation exercise, market competitions and inflations, and a standard size family requirement; position their career expectations, career developments, career paths on a more solid, fair, legitimate, competitive and result-oriented ground; and enhance internal resources through elimination of wastage via anti- corruption and other means and methods.
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