We are outraged. Barely a month has gone since the detection of misappropriation in the branch of a city bank, another account defalcation case has been unearthed. This time at the Baitul Mokarram branch of Sonali Bank, right under the nose of the House Building Finance Corporation whose 4.2 crore Taka — money repaid by the borrowers — were embezzled, thanks to the moral bankruptcy of the responsible bank employees and the abysmally low level of our clients’ information on country’s banking system.

The message a bank account misappropriation is frightening. It is like police turning thieves. When law enforcers violate law, people on whom public trust is pinned on are found wanting in their duty, a society is believed to be on its last legs. Are we close to our destruction ?

Certainty there is no point in crying over stricter laws. Laws we have in plenty. But what has come to plague our society is the want of their strict enforcement. A criminal under one regime transforms into a law abiding citizen during the other. This has stopped the society from attaining a talent for natural moral revulsion to crime. And bankruptcy of the leaders has effectively destroyed any chance of the society being up in arms against the process of criminalisation.

This embezzlement spree in the banks is a clear pointer to the state of our banking system. In all likelihood the two cases unearthed so far are the bp of the iceberg. There may be a mindbogglingly long list of defalcation whaling under it. We strongly feel the government should immediately do something to restore people's faith in the banking system which has literally gone to dogs in this country.