Life is longer than an ethical dialogue episode – corruption is necessary Exhibit 1- Rahim joins the civil service passing BCS. The amount of salary he receives, for his 4 member (includes a maid) family is barely enough. But he is determined that he wouldn't exercise any illicit practices. So he lives. His brother bought him a fridge, shared cost of a colour TV set. Grandfather buys a tricycle for the 4 year old grandson. In a district level he is one of the highest civil authority. Few years passes, his meagerness is noticed and felt by all surrounds him except the old father. Who feels so proud of his son. By the course of time he is transferred to the local judiciary. Slowly and gradually abundance cash around find a way to his pocket. He buys a motorcycle and present to his father. Father refuses to take it and disapproves the gesture. He sales the motorbike and returns to his own obedience. In the magistrate court few thousand cash for each bail everyday did not lure him since then. He was transferred to many remote and disturbed areas, political pressure, local coterie influence he carefully managed but it was hard to manage the daily living with the meager pay pack and high inflation. During one Ramadan his brother came to know that almost whole week they have been breaking their fast with steam rice and living with vegetable curry and dal, weeps and loads trunk of his car with fish, meat, sugar, milk and drive to his home. Yet the civil servant in public administration of 'Shadhin Bangladesh' saves, 100 taka prize bonds whenever he can, for his rainy days which does not make 6 digit yet. Savings of a Civil servant who aspire to be on the highest tier of the government's regular civil cadre. Cost of a vinyl table cloth surprises him, did not buy a pack of chocolate for his young kids while in Singapore on a 3 days training, only to save few hundred dollar from his unspent daily allowances. And still dreams along with his intelligent kids that at least they can study in the best government school and finishes their first degrees. All his aspiration to serve his country with fair professionalism and raise his kids shattered when he receives a notice that he is called back to Establishment Ministry as an Officer on Special Duty along with many others as their political obedience did not assure the new government. Exhibit 2- Ram joined the Air Force as a GD pilot. Mother started crying looking at his bald head and gone inside eyes, when he passed as a cadet receiving a sword and came home. Throughout, he has been on various training at different countries. It is mainly his savings from those missions, he and his wife thought they would manage their children's higher study costs. They lived a good life with the facilities provided under military services though their pay scale can't cope with the growing inflation and moderate living style considering their status in the rank of the service. Few of his batch mates already died in the sky flying rickety obsolete planes and other best of his comrades left much earlier to join civil aviation overseas whose children today drive sports car in the Dhaka's rickety road and traffic system. His wife stopped prostrating longer as he become a higher officer and do not need to fly. The pride of serving the nation and to be a proud son of the soil haunted them most, bite and hold onto the mother land in spite of many difficulties and short comings. A plot received from the government, still dreaming to build a home but a bigger question lingers from where to 'finance the construction'. The kid could not get into the choice of government institution and is forced to enrol in a private uni with a hope that smarting of today would disappear once he is graduated couple of years later. Started using the savings to pay off the tuition fees, hoping that he would graduate few years before the retirement. Though it was like any other day but received a jerk like a jet propulsion only to stir his daily routine and peace, that the boss seems do not know him any more – asked him to resign. What is my fault – order of the high up. He resigns, should forego 25% of his entitlement. He knows, few other 2/3 star generals had to leave few weeks back. Exhibit 3 – Sangram joined the lower tier of the bureaucracy barely making the requisite qualifications. 10 years on he has a side business under his wife's name. he has land in the suburb of Dhaka and a flat in mohammadpur. His children goes to private schools and rides a chauffer driven saloon car. Once he was disciplined by the department for his extra link with the contractors/suppliers of his department's services, but with the help of his all powerful connections he remains as untouchable. Recently he took his family for a shorter pilgrimage (Umrah). He is involving in local school and health management these days. His eldest son is aspiring to study in East Asia if not in Australia, with the change of the government he secured his influence even further. I am confident that all of you know at least Mr. Sangram. What is your take on the fate of the officials in Exhibit 1 & 2 ?
Thanks. Haque |
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