I have already read a number of reports about the tragic fire which has ruined the lives of many businessmen, big and small, and the thousands of workers connected to those businesses.
However, I have not yet read the word “corruption” mentioned. My friends have cautioned me not to write about corruption as I might be arrested under the Digital Security Act (DSA) for criticizing government officials.
My answer to my friends is that constructive criticism should be encouraged in all democracies and that, a month ago, I attended a discussion where the Law Minister was the chief guest at which he said he was willing to listen to the concerns of civil society representatives and make necessary amendments to the DSA.
It is high time that action is taken. Perhaps it would be better to withdraw the DSA altogether and give more importance to cyber security.
As far as Bangabazar is concerned, I understand that there are some business personnel who, individually, own numerous shops and have had a steady income renting these shops out over many years, and that it is these people who managed to legally delay the building of a proper multistory market building.
Everyone should know that rules are broken, not followed, and ignored because palms are greased; and money makes or encourages officials to look the other way and take no action.
Where other fires have taken place, in Dhaka and elsewhere, it has been found that sanctioned building designs have not been followed and, allegedly, when the fire service personnel identify that a building is unsafe, nothing is done as different officials in different offices are paid off.
Very few persons are legally charged and the court cases can drag on for years. Who, in positions of authority, has the courage to call a spade, a spade, and take action?
Every day, in my locality, I witness the effect of corruption:
The out of control traffic with many unfit vehicles allowed to be on the roads and the numerous motorbikes driving on the pavements with traffic police taking no action at all
The narrow dead-end residential road on which I live is now a corrupt commercial road, including a hospital, and the once beautiful lakeside walkway is now a car park
Other parts of the same walkway have become a place for hundreds of rickshaws to park. “We pay the commissioner,” I am told
The Dhaka North Municipal Corporation and the Banani Society have done and are doing nothing. I would describe their lack of interest and action as criminal neglect
I was in Dhaka in January 1972 when Bangabandhu, incensed that relief materials were being stolen and resold, reminded government officials that they are “servants of the people and not masters” and that theft of relief material will not be tolerated and that people will lose their regular income source. On another occasion, it was reported that Bangabandhu, still very angry about the theft of relief goods, asked, sarcastically: “Where's my blanket.”
Surely things can get better. I sincerely hope that the authorities can surprise everyone and show that they can, indeed, get better.
Julian Francis has been associated with relief and development activities of Bangladesh since the War of Liberation. In 2012, the Government of Bangladesh awarded him the ‘Friends of Liberation War Honour' in recognition of his work among the refugees in India in 1971 and in 2018 honoured him with full Bangladesh citizenship.