Photo: Messenger
There is panic among the corrupt officials and employees of various government departments as the information of a large amount of illegal assets of several government officials, including former inspector general of police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed and National Board of Revenue (NBR) officer Matiur Rahman, has come to light.
In particular, the corrupt officers and employees of the NBR, Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK), the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, the police, and sub-registry offices have lost sleep at night.
According to related sources, information about the illegal wealth of corrupt officials and their family members has been published in the media, and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the intelligence agencies have started investigating, which has created a frightening situation among the officers of various organisations and departments, including police, customs, engineering, and administration cadres.
On the other hand, honest officers are uncomfortable with corrupt colleagues. Several officials said that many of the relatives and friends are facing an embarrassing situation. They said that the common people are losing trust in government officials as information about corruption is published in the media and social media.
A joint secretary of the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) administration cadre, who did not wish to be named, told The Daily Messenger, “Though there were complaints of corruption earlier, the information of corruption of such a large number of officials was never revealed. Most of the officials of the administration are honest. The common people of the country are angry because the illegal wealth of a few corrupt officials has come to light. There is a lot of writing about it on social media. So, it is natural to panic among others as the information of corruption of some people is revealed.”
A senior official of the Parliament Secretariat said, “Many of my relatives now think that I have a lot of wealth because I am a government official. Friends also call and ask how many flats I have bought in Dhaka. Many people like me are embarrassed by such questions.” He also said, “Respect is a far cry. Because of the corrupt, no one trusts even the honest officials of the administration. Instead, they want to discuss various irregularities and corruption when they see them.”
Several officials of the Ministry of Public Administration said that due to the corruption of Benazir and Matiur, more instability and fear was created among the officials of the police, customs and administration cadres. The ACC got the information about various government officials, and the court ordered the seizure of immovable properties and bank accounts of them.
After these reports came to the media, panic among the officials increased. Officials of sub-registry offices and various engineering-related departments are also in panic. Everyone is busy looking for ways to protect themselves. Many of those who have homes abroad are also reportedly planning to quit their jobs and move abroad.
Out of the 26 cadres of BCS in government services, 14 are known as general cadres. There are 12 professional cadres. In total, among these 26 cadres, officers of nine cadres, including police, customs, VAT and excise, engineering and administration are now in fear mostly. Especially the officers of customs excise, audit and accounts cadre are in more panic. Several officers of this cadre are now going to be caught in the ACC's net, according to various media reports.
Apart from this, among the professional cadres, they are also in fear as various allegations have already been raised about the corruption of officials of public works, RAJUK, roads and highways, and public health engineering. There has been discomfort at all levels, including the deputy commissioner and district superintendent of police. The officials of the field administration are worried because the corruption of the big bosses has been exposed. However, those who are honest officers are welcoming the anti-corruption stance of the government.
In this regard, Ali Imam Majumdar, former cabinet secretary, told The Daily Messenger, “It is not only government officials who commit corruption, corruption is widespread in all areas. The ACC can start working by making a list of suspected corrupt persons. Here, in fact, we have to start working by sampling. Because the ACC does not have the manpower to catch everyone. And the ACC has not all honest officers.
The government has also used them politically.”
He further said, “Government officials and employees are required to account for their assets while joining government jobs. Still, a large section of government employees is getting more involved in corruption. This is because there is a culture of impunity. As a result, not only government employees, but all of them are looting.” With a political commitment, the campaign against corruption should be started. Those who are corrupt at the top should be caught first, he added.
Messenger/Disha
