Nothing has changed
We have totally forgotten the title that we earned just a year ago or so. The people who were charged with corruption during the last CTG do not want to be charged again, not even in future. They want their path to be smooth to continue as they were doing. So, the watchman must be kept under control, that is the decision of the present government.
The DS editorial under the above title on 28th April is a good reminder if it comes into force. We remember, at one point during the CTG rule, people were very happy and wishing the CTG to continue for many more years just because the big fish were being netted by ACC and their corruption stories were being unveiled to the people. The people were watching with great interest how the big fish along with their wives and children were being carried in the prison vans to the red brick houses. The corrupts were abandoning the cash money and their cars on the road sides, Many left homes during chase for fear of being caught. I know some people even sold out their posh furniture and curtains to make their homes ordinary looking. Many left the country for fear of the ACC.
The same people are now trying to make law to catch and punish the ACC members.
If required, we believe, they will suggest abolishing the department so that there could be no such watchdogs to watch their corruption. Corruption has been rooted out, yet our bureaucrats, politicians, police, customs, income tax etc. are not out of corruption zone. In reality, nothing has changed. The people believed the present party in power would keep their election pledge, and make ACC stronger, but the proposed law will disappoint every one.
The scale of corruption has not been reduced a bit. The famous meter readers, income tax and police boxes, file desks, case docks in courts are running as usual and nothing moves without jerk or push. How come?
The 4-party alliance government created Rab (Rapid Action Battalion) to catch the terrorists who were making the ruling alliance miserable. This has yielded good results in cubing terrorism.
The present government is also enjoying the fruits of that creation. But curbing the powers of ACC will be counter-productive and make lives of the present ruling party men miserable after their exit. So, they should be kept under surveillance of ACC for their own good.
Everyone knows, Bangladesh became champion consecutively for many years as the "most corrupt nation" in the world. The government may have been changed, but people have not been changed. Some of the very people who were running out of the country, selling their curtains and leaving their cash money at road-sides for fear of ACC, are now in power, some have even become lawmakers. They might have forgotten their past.
The government should not forget that time will not remain the same all the time.
Shafiqul Islam, NY
Saarc summit
The 16th Saarc summit ended in the presence of the heads of states from Southeast Asian countries, focussing on making Saarc a powerful organisation for regional co-operation and understanding in the fields of social, cultural, commercial and technological development. It was held in Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan in the presence of USA, UK, China, Australia, EU and Myanmar as the observer countries.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohon Singh said that Saarc could not play an effective role for 25 years since its inception in 1985 due to lack of mutual understanding and trust.
It is time the countries worked together to build a better future for people in the region.
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