Shamima Choudhury
Although there is too much talk of corruption in Bangladesh and news media enjoy and make fabricated stories of a few lucky politicians who could amass a lot of wealth, in fact, the life of a politician in Bangladesh is a curse. As we speak, thousands of politicians belonging to the Awami League party who serve their communities 24 hours a day are now passing miserable lives. Their houses have been vandalized, their businesses have been looted, or taken over, their children cannot attend schools as they have no money and they have no activity. However, the popular media is hesitant to publish their stories of miseries. In fact, the job of a politician in Bangladesh even a Minister is basically “tadbir” or making recommendations which DCs, Police Commissioners and permanent secretaries implement. At times, they can transfer or assign their favorite officials to a specific job. That’s their power. However, the implementing authority of the order is a government official who may delay such orders for months or even years. In fact, those opportunists mostly business men and women and officials including a few members of media close to powerful politicians while they were in power enjoy much benefits and life of wealth even after the past government’s departure. Fortunately, they are smart and they are always out of sight and out of mind and out of media investigation except a very few.
Government officials make most wealth
The group that makes money and wealth are important government officials. They also generally get unpunished and undetected as the media do not investigate them. They are the ones who make the life of a citizen miserable either by delaying issuing them their certificates, or passports or licenses without bribes. They harass them a lot to get bribes. In fact, they truly enjoy power and authority. Unfortunately, once the government changes, they are out of sight and out of mind. Nobody goes after them.
A politician cannot make money illegally without the connivance of an official
Corruption is a common phenomenon in all countries more so in poorer countries. During the last 16 years, a few leaders of the ruling party made fortunate through corrupt practices. A politician cannot make money through corruption without the active participation and assistance from a bureaucrat as in the Bangladesh government system, the executive authority mostly lies with the bureaucracy. A corrupt politician may wish to make money from a project, however, he or she cannot make money without the active support and connivance of the relevant officials. Once a government is overthrown, the wrath and anger of the people fall on the politicians but the corrupt bureaucrats get away with it except a microscopic few.
Bankers are involved in illegal transactions
When a politician gets bank loans illegally, he or she gets it with the active support and connivance of a banker or a bank authority. Generally the bankers get 20% cut on the loan amount for an illegal transaction.
Lesson: Don’t aspire to be a politician
So lesson is: for any young man, it is better to avoid becoming a politician. Rather he or she should strive to become a government official, a banker, a businessman or a civil society or NGO activist or a professional. Whenever a new technocratic or bureaucratic government is formed, the members of this group really enjoy the benefits of power. They remain in power for short periods, but this is enough. They can make a fortune for themselves and for their families. If a politician makes money, he or she has to distribute a part of his wealth to his supporters. In the case of advisers or non-political policy makers, they can keep all of it to themselves. They are smart.
You lose your life’s wealth if you become a politician
Many individuals before becoming a politician had their own business or profession. They were living a comfortable life. They could send their children to the best schools even abroad. If statistics are collected of all the young boys and girls who are currently pursuing their studies abroad, the data would show that the overwhelming number of students are the sons and daughters of either a bureaucrat or a Civil society or an NGO leader. The number of siblings of politicians are relatively few.
However, many of these Bangladeshi kids are very bright. For example, the current chairman of BIDA. It is reported that he could afford to study and work abroad as his father lost his job due to corruption. His father was smart to make good money through illegal means and that money helped him to send his son abroad for higher studies. Now he is said to be an asset. Barrister Partho Andalib is a son of a politician. It is reported that his father was a corrupt politician and therefore, he could send his son abroad to become a powerful barrister.
Begumpara: who are the owners?
Everyone knows about the “Begumpara” of Toronto. Take this as an example. Who are the owners of nice houses in Begumpara. Out of 28 such houses, it was revealed that 4 belong to politicians and the rest 24 belong to either bank executives, retired government officials both civilian and military, the civil society or NGO activists and of course, a few belong to business owners, mostly RMG owners. It is interesting that the houses of business leaders are less expensive vis-a-vis officials. It may be because, instead of spending money for a larger house, they invest their money in business. But whenever anyone talks of Begumpara, they always think, the politicians have siphoned money abroad. This is because of our media. Blaming politicians doesn’t cost and it’s easy.
Current policy makers & advisers
The current Advisors of the Yunus government have their own properties and wealth abroad. It is reported that most of his policy makers are foreign nationals. Many of them have acquired wealth and fame through hard work. But now if they join politics and get elected, once they are overthrown, their properties and wealth that they acquired through hard work throughout their professional life would be considered by the next government and the media plus the Duduk as “wealth acquired through corruption”. If such a mindset is encouraged, then in future, you may not get any sincere person to serve the government. Rather, you may get all the con-men and questionable opportunists to serve the government. It is reported in the media that Saima Hossain Putul, the former Prime Minister’s daughter did not apply or submit any application for a Rajuk plot yet she got it while thousands did not get even after submission of applications. Now who is responsible? It may be an interesting exercise to find out who are the lucky ones that have got a 10 khata plot in Purbachol new city housing. In spite of the request, the media is not publishing the list of all beneficiaries for public knowledge and transparency.
Lesson from Dr. Yunus innovation
The lesson from Dr. Yunus new Innovation, the “bulldozer politics” is that a “politician must not build any property or business in Bangladesh” as such might be bulldozed by hoodlums and jehadis with the tacit support of the government.This is because there are no “property rights” in Bangladesh. The government can takeover any property or business by various pretexts without due process of law. Therefore, they should build their wealth abroad as the current advisors have done. Most of the current advisors and policymakers have built their properties abroad and most of their families live abroad. In fact, the legal system in Bangladesh has become a vehicle of coercion and extortion of money. It truly needs reform.