Government officials, despite being the main actors, remain beyond accountability

A long time ago, when I was in China, I saw big cranes all around the hotels building tall skyscrapers. Cities were emerging overnight. Nowadays, as I travel around various places in Bangladesh, I feel a sense of excitement in my heart seeing the construction of large buildings and high-rise structures. Development work is taking place in every nook and corner of the country, streetlights are shining in villages and towns, and the quality of life for people is improving. I am immensely happy to see Bangladesh progressing even in challenging environments. However, due to a few corrupt government officials and touts, the country is suffering from bad publicity. As a result, foreigners are finding opportunities to advise us, which is a matter of national shame.

Many large government projects are being delayed because of them, which not only increases the public's inconvenience but also raises government expenses. It is essential to find a way out of this situation.

In this year’s budget, 23% will be spent on paying off debt interest, and 22% will go towards government employees’ salaries and allowances (which is expected to rise to 28% in the future). In other words, half of the budget will be spent on non-developmental expenses. Such a scenario is certainly not desirable for a developing country. Instead, it is crucial to increase revenue collection to prevent the government from relying more on bank loans. To achieve this, groundbreaking measures are required. However, this budget shows no signs of such initiatives, and there is doubt whether conventional methods can bring about the necessary increase. Instead, the proposal to legalize black money by imposing a 15% tax on it is both disappointing and morally unacceptable for those who earn honestly and pay a 30% income tax. Such a policy could encourage unethical ways of earning money.

A major reason for black money or invisible income is the regulation of market mechanisms. For example, when selling a house or flat worth 1 crore taka, one might declare that only 25 lakh taka was received and pay taxes on that 25 lakh. As a result, the remaining 75 lakh taka becomes unreported or black money. Is there really a need for such regulation over market mechanisms? Instead, to legalize black money, the entire 1 crore should be declared as 1 crore and taxed on that amount, rather than just 25 lakh. If the tax rate is made reasonable instead of exorbitant, it would not only increase government revenue but also help free the public from the problems associated with black or hidden money.

Secondly, our bureaucracy has become very extensive and top-heavy, and their powers have become sky-high. When I was the Foreign Minister, I had asked a Deputy Commissioner to form a committee. After several months had passed and the committee still hadn’t been formed, I asked the DC why there was such a delay in setting up the committee. He said, 'Sir, the government has given me responsibility for hundreds of committees, and I also have protocol duties. I don't have time to call meetings or form committees. In reality, a Deputy Commissioner is given hundreds of responsibilities, and these responsibilities keep increasing day by day. As a result, they do not have time to manage things properly.

On the other hand, elected public representatives have no specific responsibilities. Their only duty is to engage in ‘lobbying’. Other than lobbying, they have no obligations, even though they are held accountable for the development of their area and failures in governance. Meanwhile, despite being the main actors, government officials are beyond accountability. If a public representative wants to engage in corruption, they cannot do it alone. They must enlist the help of government employees or officials to plunder public resources. Various reports show that government employees abroad often have larger homes and are highly skilled in embezzling and laundering money. Politicians are merely pawns in their hands. Businesspeople are forced to pay bribes to government officials, and without such ‘speed money’, work does not progress smoothly.

An expatriate from Sylhet made some investments in Bangladesh at our repeated requests and the invitations of government ministers. His business has created many jobs, and he has been paying income tax as per government regulations. However, some officers in the Income Tax Department are dissatisfied with this. They have been pressuring him to give bribes, and when he refused, they fabricated false reports against him and threatened to tell him to move his business abroad if he does not comply with these unwritten rules of the country. Even after filing a complaint against the officer, he is still securely employed in his government job.

Government officials have no qualms about spending taxpayers’ money. It has become a custom to give expensive gifts to high-ranking officials during Eid or Pahela Baishakh with the money collected from the taxes of the poor. They waste money excessively. To address this, a parliamentary committee could consider whether it is possible to close down many of the government departments or offices, so that we do not suck the blood of the poor people. This would reduce government expenditures, lessen public harassment, and prevent the unnecessary prolongation of work due to the excessive bureaucracy of multiple departments.

In the United States, President Reagan is celebrated for his presidency. Although he was a movie star and did not have a deep understanding of government regulations, he was aware of how bureaucratic delays could extend processes. He is remembered fondly for two major achievements. One of these was his iconic demand to 'Tear down this wall!'—referring to the Berlin Wall between East and West Germany. Another achievement of Reagan’s presidency was that he reduced the size of the U.S. bureaucracy. He took decisive action to close down unnecessary departments, thereby saving taxpayer money. He is still remembered for this achievement. Reducing the number of employees and streamlining laws and regulations could potentially reduce corruption and the excessive celebration of bureaucratic inefficiency.

Thirdly, it is crucial to increase employment opportunities in the country. Thousands of young people are leaving for foreign countries, both legally and illegally, in search of jobs. Therefore, it is essential to take various initiatives to create more job opportunities. If the government takes fewer bank loans, the private sector will have more opportunities to take out loans, and since most jobs are created in the private sector, crowding out should be avoided. It should be remembered that if interest rates are excessively high, investment will decrease.

The Awami League party has always been dedicated to the welfare of the people and has consistently worked to implement the will of the people. The major achievements of this country, such as the creation of an independent Bangladesh, establishing it on a solid foundation, attaining the status of a developing country, eradicating poverty, replacing black laws with equal rights for all under the rule of law, combating extremism and terrorism, upholding a multi-party democratic government system, and achieving economic freedom and improving the quality of life, have all been possible under the leadership of the Awami League government. Therefore, it is up to the Awami League government to play a leading role in building a corruption-free Bangladesh. At the same time, it must rein in the excesses of the bureaucracy and establish itself as a servant and friend of the people. This responsibility falls on the country’s oldest and largest political party, the Awami League.

The greatest identity of the prime minister Sheikh Hasina is that she is the daughter of the Father of the Nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who has always been fearless and dedicated to the people. In her veins, in every fiber of her being, resonates the call for the welfare of humanity and the well-being of the people. Therefore, she is the one who can lead the nation out of the current situation. A Bangladesh free from exploitation and corruption is only possible under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership.

Author: Member of Parliament, Former Foreign Minister, and president of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs.