If the most disheartening thing about Bangladeshi governance is the widespread presence of corruption ingrained into our public institutions, then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s words on Wednesday -- “We will not tolerate any corruption” -- provides much-needed reassurance for the health of our institutions.
From negligence which leads to factory fires, to incompetence which puts our access to broadband internet at risk, to an education system that continuously fails our children, the root cause remains the corruption inherent within our national eco-system, placing and keeping unscrupulous individuals in positions of power.
As a result, a zero-tolerance policy for corruption becomes an essential tenet which the current government must live by, and we hope that public officials pay heed and carry out the PM’s instructions to “take stern action” against all who engage in corrupt behaviour -- which can be seen as a “disease” in the system.
Indeed, it remains the disease that, despite the extent to which we have developed as a nation both economically and in terms of social welfare, continues to hinder the rate at which we progress and, if we do not take action soon, could potentially lead to our downfall.
Moving forward, the most important thing is for law enforcement to be empowered in order to ensure that corrupt officials do not use their positions in the government to get away scot-free, a privilege they have enjoyed for decades, using it to become wealthy beyond their means while the most vulnerable members of our society continue to suffer.
Corruption has to end: It is the only thing that stands in our way as we eye middle-income status and work towards creating a society that that provides for Bangladeshis everywhere.
