Development plan

The current scenario is that ad hoc pushes behind the scenes dilute the public utility factor in some projects. Interventions from powerful vested groups are there in every government in other countries, but in Dhaka the political interference is rather too much, due to indulgence, which results in indiscipline getting entrenched at the institutional level. The latter is difficult to eradicate. Now our civil service has been spoilt, as it has apparently lost its virtue of neutrality, as alleged by alternate opposition parties in the parliament. Even the judiciary is being besmeared. We have to get out of this moral trap. The solution is in the hands of the political masters, as it is a top-down exercise, not the other way round!

The government this year has trimmed the paper work during processing of project documents, thereby gaining time. Once the project gets started, there are lengthy procedures pertaining to management, administration, finance, and field work. The project officers at the sites need a little more freedom, as well as the co-ordinating department, without the need to rush to the Secretariat every now and then for approvals and releases.

This is contrary to the current environment of graft and corrupt practices. How to strike the balance between centralisation and decentralisation? Our civil service is experienced enough and is much better than in many other LDCs, but the current local moral crisis is a serious impediment involving motivation. "Public interest" has become a taboo culture!