Golden Bangladesh: Reality or Rhetoric?

[This was published in the Dhaka Courier on 18 January 2013]

Just imagine and think that there is no corruption in Bangladesh and we are blessed with a life full of justice, fairness, honesty, beauty and truth having constant supports of equitable allocation and distribution of available resources and privileges irrespective of male and female, religion, caste and creed backed by brighter opportunities and possibilities. Each and everybody feels free and obligated from her/his own standing to stand by each other with a sense of neighborliness and sacrificing mood and mode. Population is aptly converted into manpower that not only enriches Bangladesh domestically but it also brings foreign currency through export of manpower and human resources. Democratic order, rule of law and human rights are well respected, followed and preserved. Change of government takes place at a regular interval through constitutional processes in a free and fair atmosphere without grumble of rigging of votes in elections from local representative bodies to national parliament. Political parties sincerely believe in the motto ‘Interests of group is greater than an individual’s and interests of nation is higher than a group’s and hold this fast under all the circumstances, favorable or not.

Imagine and think that leadership is rightly anointed with statesmanship and on any national issue leaders of the position and the opposition parties do not make any delay to talk, sit and find the ways for taking immediate initiatives patriotically as much as necessary. Sustainable development in almost all concerns, geographically and functionally, are set in motion befittingly paying due attention not to depend much on foreign aids without extreme necessity substantiated by profound logic and reason. Foreign policy resting on right vision and mission is running well playing all sorts of diplomacies keeping national interests alive above all. If such landscape really ever takes place here in Bangladesh then it is deserved rightly to be called ‘Golden Bangladesh’ for which millions of sacrifices have been made in the past, starting from 1948 to 2013. Yes, all these are possible, not a dream at all provided a corruption-free Bangladesh is created and put into practice. There is no denying the fact that Bangladesh over the periods since independence has advanced a lot in many areas, public and/or private. Fruits and taste of independence lie predominantly in the arrival and continuance of golden Bangladesh, which is not a revival in its old taxonomy but a developed height with new flavor and vigor.

But as ill luck would have it, father of the nation Bangababdhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, within a year after the birth of independent Bangladesh, uttered with a sense of utmost despair that ‘Instead of getting mines of gold in golden Bangladesh, we have got mines of thieves’. Is there any change of what the father of nation voiced thirty five years ago? One may with good grace jump to a conclusion sounding the words ‘No, no, no’. Rather in the context of time, space and dimension the overall situation has qualitatively and quantitively deteriorated in a geometric tone and tune since  one feels free or to say more aggressively it is one’s Hobson’s choice to see and  experience that----------------------------

Corruptions are deeply rooted everywhere in Bangladesh

In families, parties, politics, parliament and administration

In courts, budget-making and implementation

In parleys, clubs and associations

In trade unions, shops, stores, market places and NGOs

In trades and commerce and production

In chemical compositions, preservations, sales and purchases

In tenders and weighing;

Corruptions are deeply rooted everywhere in Bangladesh

In recruitments, disbursements, tax- fixation and tax-deductions

In revenue collection, audits and accounts;

Corruptions are deeply rooted everywhere in Bangladesh

In mosques, temples, pagodas and churches

In hospitals, academic and research institutions

In societies and state at large;

Corruptions are deeply rooted everywhere in Bangladesh

Under the table and over the table

Alongside the table and around the table

Inside the table and afar the table

Tables, tables of various natures, forms and dimensions

On, on in a full swing

Secretly or openly

Collectively or individually

Institutionally or otherwise;

Repeated and traditional question arises pertinently is what are the ways to stop or bring these under control?  Response is-----------

Let there be many a drive against corruption

Not by eye-wash catching of small fry (ies) in the scenes

But by hitting at the roots for catching

For catching from big to bigger to the biggest as well

Honestly, dedicatedly and uncompromisingly

Being above fear or favor or both;

Let there be a start of revulsion and indignation

In place of ongoing practices of applauses and encouragements

Certainly, certainly in multi-dimensional manifestations

Familially, socially, religiously and politically;

Let there be an exemplary launching from

Head of State, Head of Government and Council of Ministers

Leader of the Opposition and Members of Parliament

Political leaders belonging to both the ruling and oppositions;

Let the drives be inevitably followed with zeal and faith by

Secretaries, additional and joint secretaries

Heads of autonomous bodies and corporations

Deputy Secretaries and others having equivalent positions and below;

Let TIB and other corruption-finding institutions be hailed and assisted

For standing by the truth and reality without fear or favor

Let judiciary be modeled properly after the spirit of separation power in line

In line with Masder Hossain’s verdict of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and

Recommendations soon after

Let, let us see that the head of the nation of golden Bangladesh is held

Held high in pride, not hung down in shame on question of

Corruption anymore and again;

One may readily point out by saying that should not the recent drives by the Anti-Corruption Commission about the matters of Padma Bridge and Hallmark scams be viewed as courageous ones? Answer is that is appreciable indeed as ACC is getting rejuvenated with professional zeal and flavor because of ‘green signal’ of the party-in-power. But truth tells us starkly that ‘dependence on green signal of the party-in-power’ does not prove the ACC’s independence and free will. Therefore, immediate initiatives should be ensured by the party-in-power to create more conducive, free and fair atmosphere for the press and media, electronic and print, and to make ACC and Judiciary free and independent functionally, structurally and financially. Yes, ‘Golden Bangladesh’ is reckoning us as a reality, certainly, certainly not merely as rhetoric.

The enduring phenomenon in Bangladesh resembles more or less state of affairs in the developing countries including those in the Africa, Asia and South America in particular and the world in general. Therefore, let the theme of expected ‘golden Bangladesh’ be infused into the spirit, vision and mission of those who suffer accordingly in their respective perspectives having specialties and peculiarities as such.