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Page 6 (Editorial Page, 30th June, 2011)
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MUCH has been talked about the term ‘Digital Bangladesh’ in all forms of media – print, electronic and otherwise. Experts have written and spoken about it in uncountable volumes. Yes, this refers to one of the election pledges set forward by the current ruling party before they came into power some three years back. Experts, both in the political as well as the IT arena (and all other areas for that matter), have tried to find out and explain to the masses as to what exactly the catchphrase ‘Digital Bangladesh’ means; and rightly so – since many people initially misunderstood the concept. Contrary to popular belief, the government has not set forward any plan to make everything computerised or automated or digitised (as one would assume from the word ‘digital’), but to make the whole process of governance and administration more transparent and accessible to the general people. This of course would involve higher use of advanced technology, but that is not the only thing about it.
One of the most important steps is to ensure government officials showing professionalism in their work and to make them accountable for what they do or what they do not. And it goes without saying that rampant corruption should be brought to a minimum possible level, if not completely exterminated. Due to the absence of these things, in Bangladesh, sadly enough, any visit to government offices for almost any kind of work is nothing short of a trip to Jurassic Park, which should aptly have signboards at the entrances declaring –– ‘Enter at your own risk!!!’
My recent trip to a government bank was, as predicted, no exception. Having always done my banking at one of the private commercial banks, I had little, if any, idea about how different banks can be when they are publicly or privately administered. A simple pay order of Tk. 100 took me almost an hour and queuing up in front of five different bank officials, all of whom should get nominated (if not awarded) for their slowness and disinterest in their work. Providing a service, it seemed, was as if they were doing me a favour and that I should happily stand for hours while they make me wait and do their other paperwork, which one would normally (in private banks) expect them to do after the customer transaction hours. The officials were so full of pride (and catching up on sleep) that they even found it difficult to waste precious words from their mouth and slowly (read very slowly) pointed their fingers to the next queue where I was required to stand. One of the elderly officials was getting so tired of his work that he had to take breaks twice while I was there, once for reasons best known to him and the other time for a prolonged trip to the washroom, from where he came back with water dripping from his hands. The story of unprofessionalism can possibly go on forever, but I will stop here, assuming that my point has been made.
It is likely for those of you who have read this far to be tempted to ask that why I chose to seek services of a government bank rather than a private one if I am so critical about the first one? The reason of course is very simple – the charges for services in government banks are much cheaper than those of private ones. However, it was an option for me to go to either of the two kinds of banks, but for many people, who are required to visit government offices (with similar environments) for different kinds of work, there simply are no options. As a common citizen and as a taxpayer, is it too much for me to ask our leaders in the government to ensure a smoother environment when visiting government offices?
The writer is a contributor to daily sun.
