Where corruption rules

We have developed a culture of blaming the government for everything bad, especially corruption. But we fail to realise that some of our actions are also corrupt and reflect how morally bankrupt we are as a nation. An example will explain it better: My printer wasn't working, so I transferred the pdf files I needed to print to my flash drive and went to DCC Market at Gulshan-1 to have the printouts. Usually four pages cost BDT 24, that is BDT 6 per page. That's the normal rate around that particular area. But instead I was charged BDT 10 per page, totalling to BDT 40. After paying the bill, I asked the shopkeeper why he was taking tk 16/- more. The shopkeeper shrugged his shoulder and replied, “Well, I just took it.” I was both surprised and furious but there was nothing I could do because if I had argued with him, the shopkeeper would have gathered the Market Samity members and harassed me. So I did not say anything more and left the place.

Raqib Ahmed Asif
On e-mail