Shakespeare has written about insolence of office. Born in the space voyaging epoch, he would have been tempted to turn that and write abuse of office. Today's world, specially public affairs and affairs of the state, is permeated by corruption, a practice arising out of abuse of office. This malady eats into the vitals of both state and society. How much are we stricken by it in Bangladesh ?

Bangladesh has come fourth among the most corrupt of 54 important nations of the world, according to a survey made by US-based Transparency International. We have been deprived of higher glory by Nigeria, Pakistan and Kenya. Among the countries of least corruption New Zealand has topped Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Canada. The United States has been placed very unenvlably at fifteenth on this list.

It may be a consolation for some to see Pakistan more corrupt than us. Yes, seen from a businessman's experience — which is the basis of the TTs listings, Pakistan may be a worse horror house. But then our volume of business Is much less than Pakistan's. And then corruption does not involve office-holders and businessmen only.

Ours cannot be a healthy nation if we cannot curb corruption in a big way. It is our hope that by the time the present government will have completed its term, we perhaps can Improve so much as to catch up with India which has been placed ninth. Reason' — the recent Increase in transparency and accountability of governance. Keep it up, please.