Corruption in the service sector of Bangladesh

Corruption in the service sector  of Bangladesh

Our Prime Minister Sheik Hasina announces zero tolerance for corruption .We are optimistic about her well-constructed decision. Also I have a dream of a beautiful and prosperous Bangladesh.

But in the various sectors of the country, the mountain is equal to corruption and irregularities can be prevented. I am worried about the future. This article is about today's true story of friends who are closely watched in the service sector.

Transparency International of Bangladesh (briefly called TIB) would study on corruptions and irregularities in Bangladesh.  A few years before TIB surveyed about it and according to the said survey activities they find out corruption in the service sectors of the country as follows: the police department is 72%, the judiciary department is 63% and the land department is 44% corrupt.

Almost all the institutions of the country's service sector are corrupt. Despite spending money in these sectors, there is no sincerity (called 'lip service' in English). State-owned service organizations are suffering due to poor service. The opportunity is for the private companies to monopolies. They are doing exclusive business in the name of service. Very profitable, very attentive. Common people sweat to get their services.

The service sector is huge. The electricity, energy and income tax sectors are in a desperate state today. The quality of service is very poor. The general public is being harassed for the post as they seek services in these sectors. Now I have a question-How are employees of these three sectors? The funny thing is that 3 of my friends are employed in these services sectors. The other two are in one school and other one in college .That 3 friends are very rich now. They have a huge amount of money and   resources in the name of cars, homes, gold jewelry and wives. Today they are well-respected people in the society of corrupt and corrupt economy.

I often regret them! What did I do in Dhaka/abroad for a long time? Their idea is to become more resourceful than economical journalism. The collective name of the triangle is 'TMK' by the initials of the name. They live in the capital's Badda and Mirpur. I'm talking about how 'TMK' is destroying countries and nations.'K' was a friend of my school life. His father used to do lungi sewing in a mattress near the Mofsol subdivision. They have 3 brothers and 2 sisters in the family. In a small town, there is a rented room in a tin drive. Everyone studies. Mother made jute bags from a cottage industry association.He deposits it on the weekend and earns Tk 250 to 300 a month. Lack of wealth - "onton " with them. So often I see 'K' missing in class. I did not know the reason for his disappearance in the classroom.After many afflictions, a friend told me the secret of his absence. Buying rice at low prices often goes to Laksam by train. The profit assisted his family for providing foods by sale the rice. Where it is very difficult to provide food for the members of this family, their studies are not further afield. 'K' came to the ninth grade in great distress.

It's 1982,I am a student at Dhaka University. If I am back at night tuition. Suddenly I meet with 'K' at Malibagh Fold.He said -"he works on the power development board. His office at Malibagh." A few days later, I went to his office one afternoon and found out that I had my eyes closed! When asked about the job of a post, 'K' said office assistant. But the meter reader has his title in the Identity card.

I see Benson Hedges' cigarette packet in his pocket. One of the co-workers sitting next to him said 'K' with 3 cigarettes, and they were 17 office assistants but everyone is a meter reader. He pays electricity bills every month to 4 customers in the industrial area of Tejgaon. With a salary of about Tk 2200, 'K' earns Tk 60 to 65 thousands per month. How is that possible? In the reply he told that he  theft of ponds in the power sector. Most of the factories in Tejgaon. Power is used more in the production.

The PDB (Power Development Board) happy to waste huge amounts of money by making these meter readers  only paying a monthly basis. Although the government is heavily affected, these meter readers and customers are either benefiting. And the general public is responsible for the loss. "K" said that a commercial customer in his area paid only

1000 of the 3,000 units of electricity a month, after to the condition.

The condition is that the customer will have to pay the cash in accordance with the fixed price of the unit price. Under that condition, 5000 units per month are readings but pay bills for 1000 units. According to the agreement, the customer is exempted from the remaining 3000 units of electricity bill.Illegal means, 60% of the money collected by the power division 'meter readers' like" K", are distributed among the Chief Engineer, Executive Engineer, Assistant Engineer, Deputy Engineer, Accountant and others. Get the remaining 40 percent corresponding meter reader.Just steal electricity! Readers' business on electric meters, delivered free of charge to the customer. Like many other meter readers, my 'K' boy friend is quite rich today. He owns 20 kathas of land in an attractive area under Dhaka City Corporation and Tongi Municipality.

He owns a two-units 6-stories mosaic building in Merul on a

4.50 decimals land. He has two sarees and three fast food shops in Mouchak and Malibagh. There is also a huge bank balance. Although the friend was suspended from the job for a long time, the power division of the country is in the process for going to underwater today for such kind of mismanaging officers and employees.

The same situation with the gas department. A friend named 'M' was a very talented student. He studies in agricultural science. A very devout friend goes down to work in the middle of his education for family's need. After completing his higher secondary education, he got a job at Titas Gas. He has entered the office as Accountant Assistant but become officer today. He spent long time  in the public relation section. And also he was  a labor leader at Titus Gas. Years ago, suddenly I met with him at Jatrabari.There is no way to know him. He wear a Jinnah Cap and see as a bearded gentleman . He called me by name and hand sake . He said,  I'm "M" I live in South Jatrabari. Belong a home. How is it ! How again! 25 years of service life.  I have done gas connections to big customers. Where is all the irony! He has 2 sons and 3 daughters. He has  3 katha land at Jatrabari. One unit home on a 2 storey basement on 6 floors. Up to 3 floors complete. In front of the house, the remaining land has been rented out. All the children attend Motijheel Ideal School and College. At school they go and buy their own Toyota G Corolla in a car. Further, he has 24 kathas of land in Jurine Muradpur. He has "The Haj Caravan" office is located in Fakirapul. He performed Hajj twice with  his wife! He has traveled to 11 countries.

The third friend is 'T'. Travel abroad if he suffers a  little sick. Servicing  as Inspector in Income Tax Department. Income tax lawyers also roam behind him. He has a service life of 20 years. He earned HSC and  access to the job as a typist. 'T' earned money as the same as "K" friend  . He earn 25 times his monthly salary. In addition to inspecting the files of about 90 companies, its business. All the assets in the name of the wife. From this job, my friend owns 1 luxury flats in Malibagh Bazar Road and 1 in Segunbagicha. These  flats are rentals and he  lives  in the government quarter of Mirpur. He used to come to his office in his own car. His 90 companies do not pay  the income tax what is supposed to be taxable income.Get rid of tax at least 3-5 times. They can get the minimum tax. As a result, the government is deprived of real revenue. By virtue of the agreement, almost all the officers and employees of the income tax department, like a friend, have done this. Regardless of the plight of the common people, the officers and employees of the service sector are quite capable in the society of corruption today. The service sector of the country is also chaotic today due to corruption. People pay taxes to the government in the hope of getting service. In anticipation of a disciplined society. The whole society is intoxicated today. Someone is intoxicated, someone is getting addicted to money. Who is responsible for freeing people from irregularities and corruption in the service sector? If the people of the service sector are not cured, the prospect of building a digital Bangladesh will remain a nightmare.

***Reference: The Daily Jugantor,19 Augt. 2019 article from Mr Pronob Mojumder