Politics now a means of profit

The all-pervasive corruption in the country cannot be eradicated from society if the culture of impunity continues, said Executive Director of the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Dr Iftekharuzzaman on Tuesday.
 “The corrupt people cannot be brought to justice due to the culture of impunity. The more there will be the practice of impunity, there will be more corruption,” he said at a discussion, organised by Paribesh Bachao Andolon (PABA) at the Jatiya Press Club in the city.
The discussion was on ‘Corrupt promoting policies and environmental havoc,’ with PABA chairman Abu Naser Khan in the chair.
Identifying the reasons behind growing corruption in society , Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said it is very difficult to put the corrupt people on trial since those in enforcement agencies are violating rules more than others.
 “A corrupt can whiten black money paying only tax by 10 percent while an honest man has to pay tax by 25 percent.” In the process he said the state is working like an associate of corruption.
Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said the Finance Minister recently announced to collect subscriptions from the private sector for the ensuing T20 World Cup and a bid for national anthem record, but such initiative is unconstitutional. Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Sunday told reporters that the government plans to collect Tk 100 crore from the private sector for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup and an event to set the world record through singing of national anthem by the highest number of people in chorus.
The TIB official said only 18 percent of parliament members were businessmen in the first parliament after the country’s independence but it went up by about 58 percent in the 10th parliament. “Politicians now treat politics a means of profit,” he added. The people who are involved in corruption are becoming more powerful and those who voice against graft are gradually losing the blessings of the state power, he said adding it is impossible to ensure transparency and accountability in the country without making the national parliament and judiciary effective. He also stressed the need for holding a fresh general election immediately with the participation of all major political parties to make the national parliament effective and accountable.
The discussion was addressed, among others, by member secretary of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports Professor Anu Mohammad, economist Prof MM Akash and Poba secretary Adv Hasan Tarique Chowdhury. Referring to the move to raise power tariff Professor Anu Mohammad said there are two reasons behind it. Of the two reasons one is fulfillment of the condition of IMF while taking a loan of US $ 100 million while the other is to create the ground for profit making of the investors in the power sector.
He further said when the corrupt people are in power law cannot take its own course as things are decided in their own interests. The country, has been witnessing a competition of grabbing. Professor MM Akash of Dhaka University said it is unfortunate that the corrupt are not punished in our country but the people have to bear its burden. In the process, he said, the honest are punished while the corrupt are rewarded. He stressed the need for decentralization of power, transparency and accountability as solution to the prevailing problems.