A dubious practice
Some men and women earn greatness during their lifetime by making outstanding contribution to their own nation, or to the world civilization. As a mark of respect and gratitude to these great persons and to glorify their contribution, institutions and establishments are generally named after them after they die. This is also done to inspire the members of the younger generation to follow the footsteps of these great souls. But in Bangladesh we just see an opposite trend. Here some people in authority, especially the politicians, who are mostly corrupt, are in a great hurry to immortalize themselves while they are still alive! They don't want to wait till their death when people could evaluate their contribution and, if felt necessary, could decide to name some institution(s) after them. In the last three decades, we saw a mad rush by the corrupt political leaders of our country to name educational institutions, students' halls of residence, hospitals and other welfare institutions after their own names. In almost all such cases these persons did not spend money from their own pockets to establish these institutions. They all did it either by managing the required money out of the public exchequer, or by indulging in extortion from the general public, by exercising their political power. All this is being done in very bad taste, to say the least.
Many politicians who are now convicted by the court for corruption have a number of institutions and establishments named after them. As a citizen and taxpayer I have serious objection to this practice. Think of a school, college or a hall which has been named after a convicted corrupt person, a criminal confirmed by the court of law. Will the students of this institution, from a moral point of view, bear any respect for this person ? If not, why do we then subject the students to this immoral practice ?
I, therefore, suggest that the present caretaker government, by issuing necessary order/ ordinance, ask all institutions/ establishments, public or private, to remove the names of the persons convicted for corruption, or any other criminal offence. These institutions/ establishments can be renamed after the non-controversial national heroes. Such an order/ordinance should also ban naming of institutions/establishments for public use after the names of persons who are alive. It has to be done now.
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