Through some examples , proofs of corruption have been cited from the experience of daily life, such as bribing for utility services , paying speed money for movement of files, paying commissions to very near and dear ones of high ups of the government and others. An attempt has been made by the editor to show that most of our offices ,professionals and businesses have been polluted with corruption.

Really, it is a great humiliation for the people of Bangladesh that the country has been continuing to head the list in corruption. It is now time to see and find how Bangladesh is being grabbed by corruption day by day.

Leaving aside the report of TI , is it not true to say that the paws of corruption have spread throughout the nook and corner of the country and every people feel the pinch of corruption?. Even a poor farmer becomes the victim of corruption in times of procuring kerosene , diesel and fertilizer. People have already come to know through news papers about the mismanagement of VGF and VGD cards .The disease has been spread from the lowest clerk to the highest position. It is a matter of deep embarrassment and shame for the nation. If we look around us, everywhere we see corruption. It is hard to find any office, department, institution, business or any establishment free from corruption.

The situation has become so grave that no one can expect to get appointment , transfer and promotion in normal official rules and procedures without political backing of the ruling party. In almost all government departments, ministries and autonomous bodies, the officers cannot or do not work on the basis of rules and policy framework. The ruling party cadres and stalwarts are found to put pressure on administration to get things done in their favour by illegal ways. The high officials in the secretariat are compelled to work allegedly on the direction of powerful groups who have links with ministers, high ups of the PM's secretariat and even outside power.

Implementation of project activities, appointment, promotion and transfer in almost all offices are being done on political consideration. There are hundreds of cases of promotions of juniors, superseding the seniors and in some cases even special rules are framed to accommodate own people loyal to ruling party. The secretaries or the district administrations cannot take action against or come out from these corrupt practices believably because in that case their services will be at stake. These types of misdeeds in the form of politicisation of bureaucracy and judiciary, election engineering, politicisation of important institutions and establishments, satisfying the vested interest, all are illegal activities of the highest order and fall within the purview of corruption.

Corruption is nothing but the abuse of public office for personal gains and may be termed as misuse of public power for private benefit. Files are found to move to get things done only when the concerned officials are satisfied by speed money. Complains of corruptions relating to CNG taxis, the Danish embassy's complain of corruption, the power ministry's decision to award unsolicited contracts for small power plants to different ministers and ruling party legislators , recruitment of election officers from among party cadres -- all these activities of demonstrate the glaring examples of corruption. According to an estimate, 75 percent of foreign aid and grant received for poverty reduction is misappropriated through corruption.

Corruption is a great hindrance and predicament to development. All pervading corruption is the major impediment to our economic growth and poverty reduction. A great harm is being done to the country in the form of wastage of time and energy, escalation of cost of production, price hike, decrease of agriculture and industrial production, increase of import cost, inefficiency in administration and management, , unutilisation of human and natural resources. Poverty, misery and distress of the people increases, sliding of government's popularity occurs, quality of leadership deteriorates and above all image of the country is lost.

The World Bank chief Mr. Wolfowitz recently visited Bangladesh and remarked "Bangladesh can achieve even an 8 percent GDP growth instead of present 5 percent, if corruption is removed. Future assistance would depend on reducing corruption. We cannot commit money unless we are convinced it is going to be spent in the right way." He further commented that without eradicating corruption , it is not possible to control political terrorism, militancy and poverty. The newly appointed EU ambassador Dr. Stefan Frowein has described " corruption is certainly dangerous and not a good thing for the reputation of a country.........Foreign direct investment is very much hampered by corruption."

Obviously, corruption has a direct link with governance. The absence of good governance breeds corruption .Since the government has been failed to establish rule of law through good governance in all spheres of national life, the country has been engulfed with corruption. The country has not seen any tangible efforts and approach yet by the government to fight and address corruption. The key to achieve good governance is the political commitment and motivation, patriotism, high degree of morality and ethical values and above all efficiency and ability of the leaders to run the government successfully.

In all offices and establishments , there exist a large scale, supersession, favoritism, suppression of opposition views, OSD's, forced or early retirement etc. In the main functionaries like, administration and police, many efficient officers have been given early retirement or deprived of promotion only because they entered the service in 1973 during Awami League government. Again, very unusual in the history of Bangladesh , there is the introduction of contract service in a large scale. Officers, having the blessing of the ruling party, have been given extension on contract for year after year depriving the next aspirants. Is it the congenial atmosphere for good administration?

Now, it is in this situation of contract service and supersession, naturally, the question will arise -- how can the discipline and chain of command in the service be preserved and maintained ? Is this the situation be called good governance?

Morality and ethical values are found to be totally absent among those who are absorbed in corruption and corrupt people are always running after making fortunes by amassing wealth through illegal means. They do not remember the old lesson of the famous story -- how much land does a man require. They do not even feel and realise what harm they are inflicting on the country and the people. Only because of a few corrupt persons that the country has been deprived of economic development and as a result, the majority of the people are suffering utter hardship and misery due to the lack of daily necessaries of life. What a pitiable life the people of northern district of Rangur, Dinajpur, Gaibanda and Kurigram are passing through during this present crisis called Monga!

Corruption does not signify that the entire nation or all people are corrupt . The vast majority of people are honest and victims of corruption. Only a limited number of powerful favoured individuals are indulged in corruption. The age-old moral teaching "honesty is the best policy" has been replaced by corruption is the best means. It is only for corruption that Bangladesh today is at the crossroads of existence. Sooner the better, the country should be relieved of this scourge by establishing an efficient and transparent system of governance.

M Anwar Hossain is a former Director of Education and Professor of Economics.