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TO THE EDITOR
BRAC does it
Article 77 of the Constitution of Bangladesh provides that parliament may by law establish the office of Ombudsman. In 1980, at the initiative taken by the then government , the Jatiya Sangsad passed the necessary act providing for the establishment of the office of Ombudsman. But the then government did not put the act into effect. Successive governments followed the same trend. The office of Ombudsman has not been established in more than 24 years since the passing of the Ombudsman Act. There is no denying the fact that it is absolutely necessary to do whatever is possible to control the overt and covert powers of the traditional bureaucracy and to make it
accountable to the people. The governing board of BRAC has taken a significant innovative step in order to enhance its overall governance performance. They appointed a former secretary to the Government of Bangladesh, as their own Ombudsman . And he has become the first Ombudsman in Bangladesh.
Aftab Ahmed
LLB (Hons), final year
University of Chittagong
A closer look at the civil service
Our civil service (in Dhaka) is facing basic problems in the day to day working environment, which is polluted in various ways (not difficult to decipher). The dedication and
motivation need a close review, as the society is steadily sinking into corruption and terrorism. Lax reward and punishment attitude will deteriorate the situation further. Time to nip the problem, before it goes out of control. Some feel the situation is already out of control. The next regime may note it.
But the sicknesses of the bureaucrats were not being much publicized, and the authorities do not seem to be keen to start Operation Clean-up (start with some filter effects, then prepare a road map for sustained campaign, to restore the good image of the civil service). The latter is in public interest, as these officials are public-servants, and are expected to process their assignments as per well established procedures, which are covered by
rules and regulations.
Our officers are experienced and well trained, as the tradition comes from the British Raj days, who ran one-fifth of the world for two centuries. Our training institutions are second to none. Then what's the problem?
The problems are in the human factor area, and most of it is imposition by the superiors, leaving hardly any option for the officer under duress. The former include the political masters, which change from time to time, as regimes do.
Political polarization is a hidden evil in the system, or environment. The initiators do not admit it, and the victims cannot openly complain. It means that the internal forces cannot isolate issues and take impartial remedial measures. But
there are ways and means for cleansing a closed system.
The steel frame can be retrieved, but human laundering is not that easy and simple. Humans react, while materials do not. The head and the heart have to be in tune, and act synchronously. It is more reorientation than repair. The cosmetic aspect comes later.
Once started, the operation should work. But who will cast the first stone?
A Mahasen, Dhaka
Is democracy thin ?
Thick Democracy or thin democracy? Spread Democracy thin, and it dilutes the morals also, specially in the emerging nations, as we notice in Dhaka, and other new capitals. Thick democracy is thin Autocracy,