Editorial
Govt contract grabbing spree
Unholy nexus between politicians and rent seekers
A pervasive phenomenon has been brought to light with the arrest of 17 persons who were trying to illegally land a government contract by forcibly keeping the genuine persons from putting in their bid. Almost four hundred crore taka worth of contract was up for offer and true to the culture that is pervading in the country, a syndicate, reportedly linked to and under the sponsorship of the some high-up in the government and the ruling party, tried to grab the entire offer. Seven of those arrested were students allegedly belonging to the student wing of the BNP. The RAB should be congratulated on netting these people in. The episode has highlighted three very disconcerting aspects of our national life; one is the exploitation of students by politicians for not only their political ends but also for the nefarious business of tender snatching and illegal toll collection; two, the nexus of politicians with the rent seekers and terrorists; and the syndicated control of the economy and politics is the third worrisome aspect that we are faced with. And all these have been a part of our lives, to which the administration has not been sensitised enough to act against. What is most disconcerting in the whole business is the involvement of students belonging the highest seat of learning. And many among these would, more likely than not, seek public office and, because of their link with politicians, as this report suggests, become people's representatives too. We shudder to think that the future of our country would be in the hands of such persons. We have been hostage to syndicates of various kinds. Rent seeking and business syndicates have had the most appalling consequences on our economy and the society; and unless the government wakes up to the negative potentiality of such nexus of politicians, terrorists and students we will subject ourselves to a retrogressive phenomenon. Such an ominous prospect the nation can hardly tolerate.
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