THE year 2007 has been a year of revelation for Bangladesh. Since "one-eleven," the country has witnessed one revelation after another, each more striking than the last. Unbelievable amounts of cash were plundered, and the exposure of the lifestyles of the rich and infamous has stunned the public.

With the activation of the AntiCorruption Commission (which had been useless since its establishment), Bangladeshis had a glimpse into the lifestyles of the people who had amassed wealth through illegal means. This included a large number of political personalities, as well as some bureaucrats and leaders of collective bargaining agencies.

In a country considered to be one of the poorest in the world, reports of families with several houses, apartments, cars and yachts, and collections of exotic animals and birds, fascinated the public for weeks.

Many of these matters had been reported in the media for some time, although they were denied by the governments in the past. Bangladeshis have learned that there was support and sponsorship for the Islamic militants as they perpetrated a reign of terror in the northern part of the country.

Massive funds from the public exchequer were diverted for the construction and beautification of private property. Government owned land was grabbed or handed over to undeserving people, and organizations and contracts were manipulated to ensure that the benefits went to the powerful groups.

Other revelations were even more dramatic. People came to know that a minister collected huge sums of money in exchange for favourable treatment to criminals, and some literally got away with murder. Another assisted in commuting a death sentence.

A former prime minister was so busy that she forgot to pay tax on her income. But the most striking revelation came from a former minister who was well-known for his regular tirades against the public who, often for good reasons, protested the imposition of taxes

that were extremely difficult to assess and collect.

Thanks to the changing circumstances, this former minister has revealed that he, too, did not pay his tax when it was due, and the people are inclined to believe that this tax would have remained uncollected had there not been the risk of detection and prosecution.

There is high expectation that all these stunning revelations will stimulate appropriate response from the government in order to contribute toward a permanent resolution of these maladies. This is of paramount importance for ensuring that the political system is rid of such undesirable people and their misdeeds for good. While the acts of the government are commendable, how does they fare in governing Bangladesh?

The country faces three imminent threats, in the form of floods, inflation, and deteriorating law and order situation. Millions of Bangladeshis are crawling up to higher grounds and moving to safe places to escape the onslaught of rising floodwater. Unable to find work or earn a livelihood, they face the dangers of starvation, disease, and pauperization.

This government's response is not much different from its predecessors'. Government officials are flying over the flood- affected areas, claiming that there was no shortage of foodstuff and those relief operations were proceeding smoothly. The public, as always, finds the government's efforts inadequate and the claims unrealistic.

In addition to the miseries of floods, the public has been hard hit with double digit inflation. According to a recent statement issued by the government, prices of essential commodities have increased considerably over the past year, by as much as 66 percent for some items.

Although one source from the government attributed the inflation to increased level of income, such an explanation was not considered acceptable by anyone due to the discrepancy between the paltry income increase and the huge jump in prices. Efforts to ensure an adequate supply of foodstuff, in cooperation with personnel from Bangladesh Rifles, have had little

impact so far. Advice from various quarters for considering alternative measures to ensure continuity of supply did not appeal to the government.

It is difficult to fathom the reasons behind the escalating crime wave under a state of emergency. Generally, the most visible impact of emergency rule is an immediate improvement in law and order. It is possible because security agencies have more leeway in dealing with crime and criminal elements, and the government is able to act swiftly. But the situation in Bangladesh seems to be different.

In searching for explanations for these three problems, which are threatening to undo all the good work done by the government so far, it may be pertinent to consider the areas in which the government has preferred to concentrate its resources and personnel. It has won popular support with its determination and efforts to eradicate corruption but, since Bangladesh has not had a government of this nature before, its mandate is not clear.

At the outset, the government's actions to improve the flow of traffic in Dhaka and resettle hawkers received public endorsement. There was overwhelming support for the government's mission to round up criminals and corrupt personalities, and, not surprisingly, the majority of those nabbed are prominent political personalities.

What has been the cost of this accomplishment? Sixty-two people have been interned so far, and some were convicted in absentia. As most of them had managed to get elected as members of Parliament and/or the cabinet, they are considered as VIP prisoners, and are accorded treatment commensurate with their status.

This entails, in some cases, designation of posh residences as "sub-jails," and arrangement of adequate security measures. Large contingents of security personnel are deployed for transporting the interns to and from courts, and most of them have made several court appearances.

At the same time, the government has to ensure that the interns are comfortable by providing them with air conditioners, television

sets, and other luxury items that the VIPs cannot live without. It has been reported that some more residences have been designated as "sub-jails," and renovations are afoot in anticipation of their occupation by more VIPs. One newspaper reported that new drapes and furniture were being prepared in anticipation of more VIP interns.

While the honest citizens are suffocating under the weight of inflation, the VIPs prisoners are protected, and their needs and comfort are ensured by the government. While the flood and inflation affected people are struggling to deal with hunger, disease, and health hazards, the VIPs are receiving the best possible medical care at public expense.

According to DIG (Prisons), 12 VIP prisoners have received treatment in BSMRM University (PG Hospital), Birdem, Dhaka Medical College and Apollo Hospital, and these are among the best facilities in the country.

While both urban and rural communities are terrorised by criminals, the VIP prisoners sleep safely under the watch of security forces. According to reports, they spend time playing, chatting, reading, and writing. This is a very comfortable position to be in, considering the stiff rate of inflation and deteriorating crime scene that have made life miserable for most Bangladeshis.

Thus, 62 VIP prisoners who had access to unlimited money and illegal arms are receiving the services that rightfully should be provided to law-abiding Bangladeshi citizens.

Bangladesh is teetering on the brink of a major breakthrough, or a return to the vicious cycle of crime and corruption. There are reasons to be optimistic about the progress made so far. The demon of corruption may be exorcised forever if the corrupt realise that they can no longer enjoy the immunity they had.

It might happen if the political parties and their leaders agree with the basic assumptions, and take a clear stand on this issue. They must agree to make a clean break from the past, although the risk involved in doing so should also be recognized. In case the govern-

ment fails to apprehend and prosecute the corrupt, the tendency to commit corruption could become stronger than ever before.

The direction in which Bangladesh is headed is still not clear. Most citizens are optimistic after witnessing the arrest and conviction of powerful people, and are waiting to see more criminals prosecuted. Alternatively, some have expressed reservations about the actual outcome of the purges, and are worried about conspiracies to send the leaders of the major parties into political exile.

The supporters of the government could lose their enthusiasm due to the pinch of inflation, which will be worsened by floods and the increasing incidence of crime. This group deserves immediate attention so that the confidence in the government remains high.

Most of the existing institutions have been discredited, and the blame has to be shared by all. The way forward needs to be mapped by setting priorities and acting according to plans with an organized approach. Fighting corruption is as important as ensuring the security of life and property, and the basic needs, of the citizens.

Ignoring one while overemphasising the other could result in squandering of the opportunity that has presented itself. This government has the potential to make a genuine contribution to the future of Bangladesh. Following the strategy of previous governments does not seem to be the best option to do so. Let us see some imagination and innovation from this government.

Ahmed Shafiqul Huque teaches inthe Department of Political Science at McMaster University, Canada.