The syndicates allegedly with state blessings have already looted -- revealed in an Abul Barakat research work -- more than taka three lac crore from the ramshackle pockets of the countrymen. And that is the real mystery behind such intolerable price spiral even if the price increase in international market is taken into consideration. Interestingly enough, 60 Jamuna bridge could have been built with the amount. In this land of burgeoning unemployment, one and half crore people could have been employed by the said amount.

By the way, taka 14000 crore has been spent for the power sector in the last 4 and half years and many many electric poles have been implanted. After all, electric poles are very costly (!) things and the said amount is rather too little for that purpose and, moreover, the country needs electric poles a lot more than electricity! Proful Patel, Richard Boucher, Chief Justice JR Mudassir Husain and civil society people have again reminded us of the all encompassing extent and devastating impact of corruption on our economy and society.

The foreign dignitaries have also linked underdevelopment of many sectors to devouring corruption and, rightly so. But, who cares? After all, chances of money-making won't appear every day in this land of harilut (free plundering!). Above all, the countrymen have given them mandate for fleecing the public and plundering the national exchequer! Moreover, they have to prepare for the next general elections. And who will them the elections other than piles of money as the public is already disillusioned with and rather vexed by the platitude of 'tide of development'?

Meanwhile, Election Commission seems to have become a lunatic asylum as well as a paradise of clowns. Many call the CEC and other EC top bosses villains, inefficient and so on. But, I prefer to call them, specially the ultra-eccentric CEC, a clown that arouses more boredom than laughter. Arguably, the CEC is the most controversial person in the country now. The media of almost all leanings are bringing out his immoral activities one after another. Despite being a sitting judge, he feigned to fail to understand High Court directives and went on his illegal job of making a fresh voter list.

He even questioned the jurisdiction of High Court in directing him regarding preparation of a voter list. Though the High Court directives were clear enough, the CEC created a smokescreen only to confuse the countrymen and waste public money. Reportedly, Taka 60 crore has been spent for preparing a fresh voter list which now remains null and void after the Supreme Court rejected the EC appeal. The EC, however, claimed the cost to be less than 10 crore without any cogent proof. Oh yes, a fair amount of money has been spent for buying crockery and other luxury equipments as well.

Though the CEC has lost all sorts of credibility and self-respect and his resignation is the urgent need of the hour, he is still seems to be acting like a hardened being devoid of all sorts of self-respect and shame. The story, however, does not end here. The CEC's dilly-dally approach to executing the Supreme Court verdict is also very noticeable. Yes, he has at last agreed to abide by the Supreme Court directives and make an updated voter list. But, the more important fact is whether he should be allowed to make more wastage of public money. There is already a contempt of court case against him. The opposition parties have decided to bring corruption charge against him and I think all conscious people of the country will welcome this timely move.

Anyway, the CEC's desire to make an updated voter list is very likely to remain a far cry because there is very little likelihood that the opposition parties, the civil society and the conscious citizens of the country -- who have already denounced the CEC and unanimously called for his immediate resignation -- will tolerate his unethical presence for long.

Admittedly, the country has been besieged by all kinds of criminals, corrupts and clowns. Though very few in number, they are poised to undue all our achievements and sanity. An uncertainty seems to overwhelm our political scenario. The dialogue for Electoral and Cartaker system reform is going haywire. Time of present regime is also running out.

There are rumors and allegations of turning back from parliamentary democracy which I do not think is feasible in this country any more as the countrymen are not prepared to accept anything of this sort. However, the countrymen's vigilance and alacrity is essential to rid of or to preempt further misdeeds by the stated corrupts and, of course, mischievous clowns.

Kazi S.M. Khasrul Alam Quddusi is Assistant Professor, Department of Public Administration, University of Chittagong.