GOOD GOVERNANCE: Rule of law and self-respect — By F R Chowdhury (1)

People in public life are expected to maintain essential principles and ethics. They are not expected to compromise on matter of principles. This is what we see in the democratic world. The exception is Bangladesh.

The Chief Election Commissioner: If he had the slightest self respect, he should have already resigned. He is presiding over mockery of an election. Out of 300 seats, 154 have already been elected un-opposed. The CEC talks about even playing field. He says those in power cannot move around in official transport or use their protocol during election campaign. The prime minister addresses election rally with a Naval Officer attending as ADC standing beside her. Who cares for CEC instruction or directive? We expected the Awami League Party leader to speak with her party logo behind her but what we saw was the logo of Election Commission. Despite all that humiliation, why is the CEC still there. Is it because of any particular interest? We deplore the conduct of such official who cannot maintain dignity of office. Does he not realise that he would have gone into history book if he had resigned and refused to be a stooge of the government.

Human rights commission: Dr. Mizanur Rahman is supposed to be the human rights commissioner of Bangladesh. I do not know of any contribution made by him or his commission. In his own admission he was not allowed to enter a jail to see inmates’ conditions. There are no human rights or dignity in Bangladesh. Dr. Rahman cannot do anything about it. Why is he still there to provide cover and legitimacy to all illegal and inhuman activities of the Government? Such people are anti-people and should be regarded as traitors.

Anti-corruption Commission (ACC): This is supposed to be an independent watch-dog against corruption. In practice, the Government continuously interferes and influences the ACC to find corruption against opposition politicians. The Government utilises the ACC to give the rubber stamp clearance of all corruption charges against the ministers. Recently the Government even changed the law to curtail its power. Now it requires the ACC to seek the approval of the Government before they can initiate any action against Government officials. In fact, this was a good opportunity for the chairman to resign. He did not. He continues to be an obedient servant of the Government. The people in general have come to know how the ministers and other party bosses have improved fortunes in last five years. Yet, the ACC does not feel any need to initiate any inquiry. This can be rightly termed as another anti-people organization we could do without.

Public Service Commission (PSC): I do not know under what circumstances the commission has to select party thugs by-passing the talented candidates. The PSC is a constitutional body and I request them to be upright and do their job without any fear. All citizens of the country deserve to be treated equally. The failure of the commission has resulted in a situation where we find an administration full of civil servants void of any merit or talent.

Auditor General’s Office: They are supposed to ensure that public money is spent for common benefit of the people. I do not know how they endorse picnic by plane load of people all the way to New York. Poor country like Bangladesh cannot afford that – but who is going to raise a question?

There must be many more organizations who are not allowed to work for common benefit of the country. These must be corrected and rule of law must be established.

By now the readers may have a question as to who this man is talking about resignation of high officials. What has he done in his own life to set a precedent? Yes, I will narrate that in brief. I was not a very high official. I was Director General of the Department of Shipping in 1991 when Major (Retd) Rafiq, advisor in charge of ministry of shipping sent me a list 300 persons to issue CDC (Continuous Discharge Certificate). I explained him that with hundreds of registered and trained seafarers not having any employment, it would not be proper to issue so many new CDCs. At this point the adviser said that his good friend Rashed Khan Menon requires some fund for his election and this was a way he could help him. He also assured me of my part of the deal. I refused and as a result very next day I was transferred to Chittagong as technical director of the Bangladesh shipping Corporation. A week later I resigned and then left Bangladesh.

Working as a civil servant in the UK, I have learnt quite a few good things. The minister can oversee the work of a civil servant and even ask for explanations if the minister feels the officer has conducted himself improperly but what he cannot do is to give order or instruction on any delegated matter. This would be considered as misuse of power. The minister can certainly question the police as to why someone is arrested or released. But he cannot order to arrest or release someone. We want civil servants in Bangladesh to stand upright for the right cause without any fear.

The rule of law, according to the United Nations, “refers to a principle of governance in which all persons, institutions and entities, public and private, including state itself, are accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equally enforced and independently adjudicated, and which are consistent with international human rights, norms and standards.”

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Contact: fazlu.chowdhury@btinternet.com

Courtesy: http://www.weeklyholiday.net/Homepage/Pages/UserHome.aspx?ID=24&date=0
Jan 10, 2014