On that note, we take the liberty to say that the citizens of Bangladesh should not expect our mighty ministers to fill up forms and pay taxes like the commoners. Such a thought is tantamount to disgracing them in public. It is preposterous, indeed.

Never be oblivious of the fact that they are the privileged class of people, a different breed altogether, therefore, the laws of the country that apply for the working class cannot apply for them. As ministers and prime ministers they must come under separate laws, and must not be expected to pay taxes.

And don't forget about their family members and close family friends. They are not supposed to pay taxes either. They are the blessed class of people, and they too must remain above common, mundane activities. You see, if they are to behave like the commoners and do things as they do, like filling up income tax forms, or declaring sources of wealth, then where is the fun of being the son, or brother, or friend, of a minister or his son?

A day might come when we will see the constitution of Bangladesh being amended to exempt ministers and the prime minister from paying taxes or having to declare their wealth. Who knows, if the present lot of very imprisoned persons (VIPs) and on-the-run former ministers had known what was coming then they might have done so with the majority support in parliament in their heyday!

Ministers may not have to pay taxes, but they must enjoy the privilege of sermonising the proletariats, the working class, the plebians, about the importance of paying taxes. They will explain in complicated words the deep impact your tax money will have on the GDP (and their own bank balance).

Cynics say that the other day the NBR chairman expressed his deep sorrow when he came to know that some high and mighty ones had not paid taxes in last the five, ten, twenty, years. Did the respected chairman wake up from a sleep after a century, like the "seven sleepers of Ephasus?"

No sir, we are not surprised or sorry. We know how politicians operate in a poor country like Bangladesh, and how they get away and yet come back every five years. They are like the plague. And we also know that the honest officers in the NBR, commercial banks, customs, police, detective branches, and the civil service, fail to rise above fear and favour to stop the illegal deeds of the corrupt MPs, ministers, prime minister, police officials, and civil service officials.

For the fear of their jobs, they allow a small illegal act to grow like cancer in the system, and then see it spread ominously to destroy the very system they work in.

Corruption has been there in this country in the past but never in the magnitude we see now. Never before has corruption been allowed to flourish and take an institutional shape under government protection, as we have seen in recent times.

Never before has the worth of money been trivialised on such a scale as it had been in last the five years. When people of no worth suddenly start transacting money in terms of crores, it clearly says that the country's economy is not going the right direction. It is not a healthy sign of growth.

It has been said by many on many occasions, but we need to say and hear it again and again, at least for quite a while, that corruption has destroyed many of the institutions beyond repair. Many more are on the verge of collapse, and these need immediate rescue efforts to make our society worthy of our rich heritage and tradition.

We must reinstall some of the lost traditions, values, and morals to bring cohesion and order in society and, thereby, earn the respect of other nations. A poor, developing country cannot earn the respect of the world community by showing off expensive villas, or cars, or picnic spots, only.

Attaining excellence in technical education, social-medical research, inventions and innovation, and socio-economic services, to close the gap between the rich and the poor will be the indicator of a progressive society worth the recognition. Have we heard any politician talking ardently about these in public meetings?

Shahnoor Wahid is Senior Assistant Editor of The Daily Star.