Corruption in publicly funded works
That public works
are mired in corruption are nothing new and a look at
the roads of the capital that need repairing every other year, is proof enough that slipshod work using semi standard materials has
been going on for
some time
Case of bridges collapsing soon after their construction or sometimes even before construction, similar crumbling down of roads and section of highways and other infrastructures built under the public sector, are noted. It is alleged that the materials used for the constructions of these are of a very low quality but the question is why inquiries into such waste of public funds are not carried out or are carried out superficially not establishing responsibility and hard penalties not meted out to ones who would deserve them. Of course in Bangladesh, where venality is now deeply entrenched in almost every sphere of life and has come to be identified as a norm, answers are hard to come by.
That public works are mired in corruption are nothing new and a look at the roads of the capital that need repairing every other year, is proof enough that slipshod work using semi standard materials has been going on for some time. Understandably, getting away with such gross wrongs involves a nexus or collusions between the constructing firms and relevant government officials . But then, how many government officials and contractors were ever publicly disgraced and punished for being involved in nefarious deeds? Usually, in such cases, only infrequently a few are charged and they too are able to wiggle out exploiting weaknesses in the legal process and lack of determination on the part of the plaintiffs.
The cases of poorly constructed public infrastructures are multiplying. This has been a problem for some decades. But the question is one of degree. It appears that the contractors and others are now getting away too easily after the most blatant and unabashed misappropriation of peoples money. Recently, a series of credible reports were published in the press about projects in which entire sums allocated were shown as drawn and spent. But the projects did not even take-off. Specially, such cases have been discovered in some road building projects financed by the World Bank.
So, it is high time for high ups in the government, if they feel a duty of care, to look at these issues with the seriousness the same would deserve and with a view to taking appropriate stern actions against the cheaters and stealers involved in such activities.
