Bangladesh needs an Eliot Ness style anti-corruption team

It’s been well established one of talents Bangladesh has on offer is corruption of the highest standard.

 

While there may be a shortage of some essential items from time to time, electricity and suchlike, there’s never a shortage of corruption. If it were possible to bottle, package, or produce it in pill form, Bangladesh would rank high among the world’s top producers and potential leading exporters.

 

It’s literally everywhere (or at least was everywhere up to August 8)... the passport office... post office... the taxation department.... you name it! And just because you may not have had any personal experience and not contracted the disease – although that’s doubtful – be assured it’s there, just waiting for the right opportunity to pounce on its prey, which is virtually all of us, rich and poor. Yes, even the poor do not escape.

 

It’s difficult to impossible to name an area that’s free of corruption. Even disadvantaged, tender-aged village school children have to pay 100-taka for their Junior School Certificate parchments, although they are given to the schools by the government free.

 

How many times do the taxpayers of Bangladesh have to pay for the roads and streets to be surfaced properly before they are properly resurfaced?

Roads and highways
The corrupt authorities responsible for the upkeep of the roads and pathways, seemingly, have patented a method that makes the roads look good for six-months (or less), then the inferior quality material disintegrates literally before your very eyes, and more money is required to re-do the job all over again. 

 

Then there’s the scandalous behaviour of the regular mosque-going, alleged “good Muslims” during Ramadan when the have-nots of society become victims. 

 

During the holy month of Ramadan – the holiest month of the year – when we should all get down on our knees, repent for our sins, join in seeking forgiveness from Allah, make sincere retribution, help one another and celebrate, corruption and skulduggery thrives. One sees the cost of food skyrocket beyond the reach of most.

 

All of that, however, is miniscule corruption. The ‘real’ money is made by money laundering and squirrelling it overseas to safe havens for a rainy day or when the person becomes persona non grata in Bangladesh and needs to leave quickly.

 

Cautionary note: if the illegal cash stockpiled overseas since 1972 came back in one bundle, the chances are Bangladesh would sink.

 

Bangladesh doesn’t need to seek new export opportunities immediately, just bring back the billions that have been stolen, and rightfully belong to the people.

 

As recent media reports indicate about certain individuals owning hundreds of properties in the UK, Dubai, Canada and such, we’re not talking about small change here, but BIG money that’s well worth pursuing. And these people number many.

 

Eliot Ness
However... (monster sigh)... to do this successfully, it requires a team of Allah-fearing incorruptible individuals of impeccable character like the Eliot Ness team.

 

Eliot Ness (1903 –1957) was an American Prohibition agent and crime fighter known for his efforts to bring down Al Capone while enforcing Prohibition in Chicago. He was leader of a nine-man team of law enforcement agents handpicked by him for their incorruptibility, nicknamed “The Untouchables”. In the pursuit of justice and adherence to the law they put their lives on the line daily and were not influenced by offers of bribery nor death threats, that regularly came their way.

 

That’s one of the problems about attempting to combat corruption. Those on the front line face enormous challenges and temptation. Officers for the ACC, police, (or whatever agency) of corruption investigators can easily become entangled in the web. 

 

Momentarily, place yourself in their shoes, Crook A is caught in a “got-ya!” with, say, $US100-million he should not have. There’s no question about his guilt. He was caught with the smoking gun still in his hand and it was still warm. It’s an open–and–shut case, and it’s clear that Crook A would normally face time in jail and have the cash confiscated.

 

Crook A, however, puts it to the captor/investigating officer that $US 5-10 million (or more) is his if he makes it go away.

 

Five or ten million dollars is nothing to be sneezed and would buy a lot of food and clothing for the family. The investigating officer, for example, may have a member of his family who needs expensive surgery overseas that’s not available in Bangladesh and on his salary it’s totally out of the question. Is he or she going to stand by idle and see their loved one suffer and die?

 

What does he or she do? Before becoming moralistic and passing judgment, ask yourself what would you do? It’s a moral dilemma. 

 

While there are no saints among the crooks, there needs to be some among those investigating them. Corruption will never be eradicated, but it can be reduced.

 

Is it possible to establish a team of Eliot Ness character and principles in Bangladesh? Only time will tell.

Through the noble actions of the Anti Discrimination Movement Bangladesh has been blessed by Allah and given another chance at wiping the blackboard of skulduggery and despair clean; rebuilding Bangladesh properly from scratch, as if it were Lego, and this time getting it right, but that would be impossible if corruption is not controlled.

 

Installing a new government is only half of the battle won. The real victory lies in installing a new government that is competent in serving the people, can be infinitely trusted, that’s totally free of corruption, that resurrects, dusts-off, and brings to life the immortal words spoken by President Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg: “government of the people, by the people, for the people”. 

 

Anything, other than embracing and putting those ideals into practice is fake democracy, untrue, and unworthy of pursuit.... as we have witnessed. 

 

The people of Bangladesh have suffered long enough. Countless have given their limbs and lives in pursuit of a better life, not for the rich to get richer and the majority of the people continue to be enslaved by poverty.

 

The greatest honour we can bestow upon those noble persons posthumously of 1971, 1952, and more recently those in 2024, is to build a nation that would make them proud and worthy of their incredible sacrifice, rather than cause them to turn in their graves in abject disappointment, horror, and disgust as many following the 1971 war of independence no doubt did.

 

(Sir Frank Peters is a former newspaper and magazine publisher and editor, a humanitarian, human rights activist, Honorary Member of the Bangladesh Freedom Fighters, and an esteemed foreign friend of Bangladesh, three Bangladeshi baby boys have been named ‘Frank Peters’ in his honour. <[email protected]>)