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FUTURE DIRECTIONS OF DEVELOPMENT

'Soft' and 'Negative' State deters Implementation

by Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad
Coming now to implementation, it is to be recognized that Bangladesh is characterized by a 'soft' and 'negative' state. Softness relates to the fact that the country lacks institutional capacity to implement development programmes effectively. The institutions are often weak or Inappropriate They are deficient 1n staff strength, trained manpower and managerial capabilities as well as financial resources. Also, the existing capacity is not properly utilized and the bureaucracy often creates impediments instead of performing the assigned tasks — the negative influence, the reasons are bureaucratic procrastination and corruption. These flaws In the institutional apparatus of the government have led to distorted and wasteful public management of resources — in respect of both mobilization and utilization; also, substantial proportions of resources have been siphoned off by corrupt people manning and influencing the institutions at various levels.
The upshot is that serious attention must be given by the forthcoming democratic government to the task of strengthening and cleansing institutions. This is surely easier said than done, particularly in this country where corruption and shirking of responsibility have become virtu • ally institutionalized attributes. But the fact remains that no amount of lament will be of any avail. The government will therefore have to brace Itself for serious actions to lift the state apparatus from its present soft and negative to a positive. pivotal force behind all national agenda. It is crucially important to implement financial discipline and work ethics in various political and bureaucratic Institutions ruthlessly. and to design and undertake and appropriate manpower development plan to improve the Institutional capacity to implement the national agenda effectively.
Sustainable Development
In, order to alleviate poverty, growth must be accelerated. And development processes pursued should be environmentally sound to be sustainable on a long term basis. Unfortunately the kind of development that is putoued In Bangladesh, as well as elsewhere, which is devoted to the exploitation of natural resources for achieving material progress and the persisting poverty have both been causing serious damages to the fragile environmental base of the countiy. The technology being used has been causing environmental degradation and the poor exploit environmental resources Just to eke out a living. The problem is very complex. Part of the solution would lie in choosing technologies which are capable of producing fast enough growth without intolerable adverse effects on the environment. But the question is : are such technologies avail -able? Bangladesh naturally cannot develop them. The worldwide heightening of environmental concerns, particu-Isrly over the past decade, have led to the development of many green technologies (so-called because they are environmentally benign or cause tolerable damages to environment) and many others may be on the way. In Bangladesh, the Important environmental concerns relate to deforestation (less than 9% of the country's landmass is under forest while for a sound ecological regime the proportion should be about 25%). soil degradation, urbanisation. extinction and threatened extinction of many species wild life etc. These and other environmental concerns must be taken seriously into account tn planning development in Bangladesh.
In many respects. It may not be technological hardware only, but also the human behaviour pattern that causes considerable damages to the environment. In this case, a knowledge and ayareness raising process will be helpful.
In so far as the poor are concerned, no amount of preaching will dissuade them from exploiting natural resources because often their livelihood depends on it. So the solution lies In accelerating growth which is a centra] concern of development planning In Bangladesh. However, along with efforts to accelerate development, raising awareness about the ill effects of environmental degradation and benefits of smaller families for the families themselves as well as environment can serve useful purposes.
Preponderant Role of Cultural Traits
The types of political and socio-economic systems that are established or sought to be established by the people of a country, as opposed to being imposed by a dictatorship, are a reflection of the dominant cultural traits of the people themselves, which determine their lifestyles (their characters. attitudes, behaviour patterns. relationships with fellow human beings) and the values they hold and endeavour to establish.
It may be noted here that there seems to have developed a king of cultural acceptance of poverty and dependence on foreign aid. donor influences and dictates In Bangladesh. There is a widespread accommodation to both. In the prevailing situation, aid conditionalities are formulated by donors from the vantage point (assumed by them with our acquiescence) that since they hold the purse string they know best as to what should be done concerning development In Bangladesh and how. The conditionalities often create straight Jackets allowing Ittlje or no flexibility. and non - or deficient performance in relation to the conditionalities brings forth strictures and warnings from the donors, which are swallowed and future good behaviour promised, in the process, national sovereignty is clearly compromised. In order to assert national self-respect and. sovereignty In decision mak- j Ing. another culture is therefore needed to be developed that does not allow such compromises.
Thus only when a cultural environment exists such that people cherish the goals of establishing a democratic political system and a people-centred. exploitation-free, self-reliant economic system, that they will endeavour to realize the goals and will resist and fight forces that may seek to establish autocratic and exploitative regimes. Hence. It is crucially important that due emphasis is given to the establishment of an appropriate cultural environment in Bangladesh as the above goals are pursued. Otherwise, the process that has been Initiated is liable to degenerate and disintegrate with disastrous consequences.
In concluding. It may be strongly suggest that the Issues discussed above should be widely debated toward generating national consensus as to how best to approach them. Political parties should plac< their views and positions regarding them on the table for the members of the public to know and make their judgements about them.