The New Nation - Internet Edition

Soon after the present Caretaker Government assumed office, it took steps to fulfil the long-awaited expectations of the people through reforms of various institutions. These institutions now freed from corruption has been running efficiently and with good reputation. Only some days ago before the reforms were implemented, the people felt utterly helpless due to unbridled corruption and irregularities of those institutions. Efficiency, honesty, neutrality and an opportunity to work independently are the factors most needed to run any institution. The Government has by now reformed some institutions and the people are already reaping its benefits.

The PSC is responsible to recruit officers for different cadre and non-cadre jobs and they run the Government offices in various capacities. They play an important role in policy formulations and their implementation. For sometime past, the people have grown suspicious about the way the candidates were appointed on grounds of corruption, irregularities and favouritism. Leakages of question papers and appointments of unfit candidates to important cadre and non-cadre posts frustrated the nation. The blue-print to make the administration subservient to the ruling political party was no longer a secret.

The present neutral Caretaker Government took steps to rid the Public Service Commission of illegal practices like favouritism and corruption. The Government appointed a Chairman and five members for the PSC as the controversial appointees left the office. Initiatives were taken to hold viva-voce test afresh for the 27th batch of the BCS candidates. Much to the embarrassment of the PSC, leakage of question papers had become almost an annual event. A new device and strategy is now underway to ensure transparency and accountability which leaves no scope for corruption like leakage of question papers, politicisation and such others.

A sizable number of our educated people are handicapped. Now there exists good opportunities to provide education to the handicapped and they are doing well in various examinations. The PSC allow them to sit for the BCS examination so that they also can contribute their knowledge for nation-building activities. With the appropriate steps taken, the PSC has now got back its lost reputation.

Anti-corruption Commission is a constitutional body and its chairman and members are appointed, by the President of Bangladesh in order that it is kept free of any external influence. In the past, the Anti-corruption Commission could never play its designated role in a free and fair manner. Some members, however, expressed separately their limitations in discharging their responsibilities. The Anti-Corruption. Commission virtually was rendered inoperative for all practical purposes and the people became suspicious about its activities, and corruption was spreading at a faster pace, as a result. The Anti-Corruption Commission did not take any action even when complains were lodged with it.

The Government took initiative to reform the Anti-Corruption Commission soon after it assumed office. Competent and acceptable persons were appointed as chairman and members of the Commission. The Government also accorded legal recognition to the Commission as an autonomous institution. An organogram comprising of 1,281 personnel was also approved. The Commission started its work with new vigour. New cases were filed against the corrupt elements. Special court was set-up to settle the cases speedily. The convicts were jailed; fined and their properties confiscated. The trial of the corrupt people created a sensation in the country. The people have now reposed their confidence in the judiciary.

Bangladesh is now a signatory to the United Nation Anti-corruption Convention. Anti-corruption drive has been started to root out corruption from the service-oriented set-ups. The Anti-corruption Task Force took special initiative in this regard. Presently anti-corruption drive is underway in the setups like Rajuk, Chauk (Chittagong Development Authority), PDB, DESA, Health Management, Forest Department, City Corporations and many others. By now many people have been arrested and cases were filed against many. A congenial atmosphere has now returned to offices and the people are now getting service without any hassle.

The policy to import duty-free motor cars for the members of the Parliament has been abolished. It has been found that in the past the MPs sold their imported cars at high price defying the relevant rules to enrich them illegally. Already many of them have been arrested for such illegal transactions and their trial is going on. Of the huge amount smuggled out of the country, Tk 900 crore has already been brought back to the country. A high-powered Task Force have been constituted to bring back money smuggled out of the country and they are putting in their best effort to discharge their responsibilities.

The Government has recovered more than 40 thousand acres of land from the land-grabbers and more than 9 lakh acres of forest lands at district level. Demolition of unauthorised constructions including Rangs Bhaban and recovery of illegal occupation of roads, government lands including filled-in lands have made steady progress.

Special drive has been launched against the illegal VOIP business and drugs like yaba. Government has now created a new source to earn huge amount of money by according permission to operate VOIP in the country. Due to anticrime drive, crime has gone down all over the country and a sense of security has returned to civic life. The anti-adulteration drive has also brought salutory result to make our citizens health conscious. These days one does not find fishes with formalin.

Education is nation's backbone. Fraudulent practices abounded in the sector and as a result, the students and guardians have been deceived since long. Higher education in particular was converted into commerce. Some swindlers were operating to make money out of it. Taking advantage of poor rules and using political power there had been a proliferation of private universities. There being no check in setting up such universities, corruption in education sector had increased sky-high and consequently the nation's backbone was becoming weaker and weaker by the day.

The present government took initiative to reform the University Grants Commission soon after it took office. New appointments to the post of Chairman and other important posts were made. Measures to update the laws regulating the private universities are underway so that they could serve the community in an effective and fruitful manner. Permission to start new private universities has been stopped by a notification. Investigation into the corruption charges leveled by the UGC against the fifteen public universities are now continuing. The UGC has published a list of fifty-six illegal institutions of higher education through a notification. A search committee has been constituted for appointments to the post of Vice-chancellor, pro- Vice-chancellor and Treasurer for the private universities.

Sea-ports are the principal gateways for country's export and import business. Chittagong and Mongla are the two sea ports of our country. Corruption and politics afflicted the two ports much since long.

Government is incurring huge financial loss everyday. In the name of labour organisations, some people have made illegal fortunes at the expense of the nation. The previous governments failed to bring order to the two ports causing huge financial loss to the public exchequer for so many years.

The present government lost no time to implement necessary reforms in the management of both the Chittagong and Mongla ports, and as a result, its management capacity has gone up to forty per cent. Consequently, revenue earning increased substantially, labour unrest disappeared and the quality of service improved manifold. The previous eleven-day turn around period of ships are now reduced to 3.6 days. The management board of dock labourers has been abolished. The labourers are now much disciplined. The access road to the port has been commissioned. The operation schedule has been changed to three shifts from the earlier two. There is no crowding of ships now and goods are being loaded and unloaded as per rules. Chittagong port is the main source of revenue earning of the government. The efficiency of the Mongla port too has improved significantly. The arrival and departure of ships are regulated strictly according to schedule. Discipline and orderliness in now back in ports management.

An independent and neutral Election Commission is the first and foremost requirement to ensure a free and fair election in the country. The present Government took up this responsibility in right earnest soon after it took office. In reorganising the Election Commission, the Government appointed a Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners. The office of the Election Commission has been made independent and separated from other offices. The Chief Election Commissioner announced the road-map for election on July 15, 2007. Following the road map, election to local bodies will be held in the beginning of this year. Election to national Parliament is scheduled to be held by December 2008. The work to prepare voters ID card along with photographs has already been started. It is hoped the work will be over earlier to the time table fixed for it and the date for election may also he advanced accordingly. In the event, the election can be completed following the voters list with photographs and national ID cards as per roadmap announced by the Election Commission that certainly would be a shining example for the world community to emulate. Reforms are a continuous process. All citizens' support and cooperation are vital to make the reforms a success.

(PID Feature)