The interim government, despite its inconsistent performance during its first 100 days, has seemingly committed to its promise of reform. The previous Awami League government’s misrule saw the slow erosion of accountability on the part of our civil service, institutions which are meant to serve the people became gradually infiltrated by loyalists and unscrupulous individuals who prioritized personal gain over the wider good.
To be fair, corruption has always been part and parcel with governance in Bangladesh regardless of the party in power, with practically every rank of our political hierarchy being occupied by individuals lacking a moral compass. This culture of greed and corruption is what leads to wide-scale disasters such as buildings meant for residential use being given space for commercial activity and any ensuing disaster.
According to recent reports, officials of the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) have been instructed by the organization’s administration to submit asset declarations by November 30. The directive is reportedly part of a broader initiative outlined by the Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, who had earlier emphasized that all government employees must submit their asset declarations annually.
While not entirely a bullet-proof strategy, getting government officials to submit asset declarations is a positive first step in the fight against administrative corruption and re-establishing accountability as a core pillar of our civil administration. Indeed, lack of transparency is an underlying issue with practically every institution in Bangladesh -- a big reason why the general public are so hesitant to pay taxes has been due to a dearth of information on how their hard-earned money is being utilized by the government of the day.
While Bangladesh waits for a truly free and fair election, the interim government needs to uphold its promises of reform. As things stand, there is perhaps no reform more important for us than to re-establish a culture of accountability and transparency when it comes to our civil service.
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
