Published in the Daily Sun on Tuesday, 24 September 2013.
Download PDF for more on this topic, published in Kaler Kantha on Tuesday, 24 September 2013.
‘Corruption will decrease if people are conscious’
Citing that corruption is a big obstacle to the development of Bangladesh, Senior Adviser to the United Nations Dr Hamidur Rashid said, “Corruption is committed in many countries of the world. In abroad, corruption is committed maintaining the quality of the work, but in Bangladesh it is committed in every sphere. Corruption will decrease if the people of Bangladesh become conscious. Corruption can be committed in developing countries. If it (corruption) is committed after maintaining the quality of the work, it can be prevented in the future. It is not good for the country if corruption spreads to the every aspect of the society.”
He said, “If we can make good use of our population it can be turned into manpower. The GDP growth rate of Bangladesh will increase if helping hand is extended to the people who return to the country after staying in abroad for a long time. The unemployment rate will decrease and the country will develop more.”
Dr Rashid made the observation on a TV talk show titled ‘Muktobak’ on Channel 24 on Sunday night. Centre for Policy Dialogue Director Dr Mustafizur Rahman also took part in the show anchored by Nagarik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna.
At the beginning of the programme, the anchor asked, “Political crisis over how the national election will be held emerge at the fag-end of every government. It is happening this time also. The government and the opposition have not reached an understanding yet, although a few months are left before the election. How do you view this?”
In reply, Dr Mustafiz said, “Political stability is important for the development of the country. Local and foreign investments do not increase during political instability. The politicians should think not only of political crisis but also country’s development. One party will come to power and another will leave, but the politicians have to think about the country’s development.”
He also said, “We count the number of people that leave the country annually, but we don’t count the number that return to the country. Many expatriates return to the country being expert on different jobs. But they remain unemployed after returning to the country. There is no scope for them to work. If the government can provide loans to them, they can work for the country.”
At that time, a viewer of the show asked over the phone, “When the present President was the Speaker of the parliament, he once said that two Padma bridges can be made with the money that is annually spent through corruption. If it is true, where does this huge amount of money goes? Where is it spent?”
Dr Hamidur replied, “It is tough to say where this huge amount of money goes. If corruption is committed maintaining the quality of work, at least, we would not have to do the same job repeatedly.”
At that time Dr Mustafiz said, “It is not right that there won’t be any problem if corruption is committed maintaining the quality of the work. Because it will create another problem if quality of the work is maintained after increasing the amount of allotted money. Common people will suffer then. If a bridge is constructed spending excess money, the toll of the bridge will also increase. Common people of the country will have to pay the toll. So, corruption cannot be tolerated at any cost.”