Inspection & QC culture
The ruling regimes since 1972 failed to introduce discipline and transparency in our inspectors and inspection networks. It means R&D and QC (research and development; and quality control) were wasteful expenditures; especially for goods and services not exported (like RMG and manpower exports). The local consumers have been suffering, being offered shoddy goods and services. This type of systems losses are huge over the decades, tarnishing the image of Bangladeshi products and services.
Who are working in the background, compared to the visible field staff (who wear no uniform outdoors for instant identity by the citizens)? These are the support teams comprising the bureaucrats and the technocrats and the concerned official agencies associated with R&D and QC. Why so lax and devoid of dedication? The pen-pushers in the Secretariat, ministries and policy-making bodies.
The role of the technocrats in the civil service has to be reviewed. Now the technical staff are kept under lid; and brought out once in a while, for the convenience of the political masters.
Some examples: unauthorized shops carrying out conversion of vehicles for CNG operation; people buy foreign honey and other products [even foreign RMG/clothes; many with fake labels] unfit vehicles on the roads; fake certificates and documents; adulterated foods; unqualified drivers; illegal medical diagnostic centres; non-use of revenue stamps in money receipts; tax evasion--in fact too many items to prepare a list in one sitting, but well known to the average citizens.
The businessmen and industrialists have an easy time, marketing shoddy products and services. In short, we have encouraged a culture of corrupt practices (note the dimensions of RAB raids and prosecutions).
Recently it has been pointed out in the press that even the officially controlled taxis at the airport fleece the passengers. There is a more reliable solution; buy a taxi ticket at the airport counter, and pay at the counter, and do not pay the driver. The rates are fixed for the different zones of the city corp. The taxis form a queue, as in KL Malaysia (where I enjoyed this facility for ten years in the 1980s), the city autorickshaws and taxis have fare meters fitted, but do not turn it on; and haggle with each and every passenger.
The powerful CTG cannot enforce this simple rule, widely practised all over the world. No deterrent prosecutions and publicity. It is not enough to be too busy with the preparations for the next general elections (the ID card is important), and ignore daily hassles. More than 60 per cent of road passengers use the pedal rickshaws in Dhaka city, while only one per cent have private cars, as per newspaper reports; then why this zulum on the majority commuters? The majority of rickshaw drivers and vehicles have fake documents.
There are two basic aspects; control the number of cycle rickshaws; and discourage urban migration to the capital Dhaka [diversify]. You can't get any work done without visiting Dhaka for most assignments. It is not good governance!
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