Feature

Battered PSC and Shattered Dream

Dr. Binoy Barman

Public Service Commission or PSC is battered, wounded. It is battered by corruption wounded by a band of bandits. Corruption in PSC has plundered the dream of the youth who wanted a decent life by virtue of their brilliance and ability. They thought if the BCS examinations were held in a fair way they would be selected for cadre service and could serve the nation as required. But all their dream is shattered! They have found, to their utter dismay, question paper leakage, bribery and backdoor appointment. They have dropped from the selection process while the less qualified got the 'open sesame' to fortune. They have been petrified with the enormity of shock.

What was the offence of the young folk who, despite qualifications, could not fetch the coveted job? Their offence was: they could not collect a leaked question, could not bribe the concerned officials, and could not satisfy the political leaders who have clout in PSC. Their root offence seems to be honesty and the honest quest for job. But their honesty and other qualifications did not pay off. Dishonesty was rewarded and the crooked became victorious. This has thrown the youth in abysmal frustration, with escalating distrust in society and social norms, and more harmfully, the existing patterns of governance. This is disastrous for the individuals as well as the nation.

Corruption in PSC has rendered education ineffective. Education fails when it cannot bring fruit for those who are properly educated by the standard. After having education up to certain level, every citizen has the right to aspire for government job. They are ready to compete in a free and fair environment. In practice, they prepare themselves burning midnight oil, in the dream of 'hitting oil', to use an old phrase. They would have no grievance, should they be screened out in a fair competition. But when they discover they have fallen victim to a foul play, they naturally become aggrieved. With a feeling of helplessness, they only curse the system they are stuck in. They cannot congratulate those who become successful just as they cannot forgive themselves for failure. It is a great loss in youth spirit.

But what about those who have secured a government job by unfair means? I think they are even bigger losers. Although they are apparently happy with employment, they will never find peace in mind. A sense of guilt will ceaselessly haunt them throughout their lives. They will lack morale to do anything good in and out of their career. Why need we use adjective 'good' for those who have abandoned 'good' for good? Indeed it is all 'bad' in their lives. As they have started career through dishonesty, they can never be honest. They indulge in corruption, to realise, in the first place, the money spent for getting the golden deer in hand. They make their place of work a hell of misdeed. They become busy with their own welfare, forgetting their responsibility to the nation. Whatever they touch becomes corrupt, breeding further corruption, with ripple effect. PSC has thus played a key role in setting bad practice, making everything polluted. I think PSC is responsible to a great extent for Bangladesh's being champion in worldwide measurement of corruption, thereby tarnishing the image of the country internationally.

PSC can be held responsible for bringing another curse for the nation. It has deprived the nation of the service of the brilliant youths, who had potential but failed. The bureaucracy will only weaken in the absence of efficient workforce and its consequence will be grave and grievous. Decision making in the national and international affairs will fall short of appropriateness, slowing the pace of progress. As a result, the nation will be lagging behind in every respect. Admittedly, a nation can make quick progress if it has an efficient bureaucracy. The PSC has spoiled that potentiality.

Newspapers have revealed the stories of how PSC members found the 'hidden treasure' and became millionaires over the past few years. One of the PSC members, Professor Mahfuzur Rahman, allegedly earned Tk. 1.2 crore in illicit way. It was proven from the bank account; he might possess much more undocumented bucks, I mean, black money. There are allegations that he took bribe from the 27th BCS candidates and others. He willingly resigned from PSC on April 2, 2007 and went into hiding, which betrays his bad intention. Other members of the PSC who entered the 'big vault' with political backing also have similar nauseating stories. A strong word of caution nobody should be allowed to go unpunished no members, and no chairman, anyway, however powerful they may be! A lot of allegations, mostly relating to question paper leaking, were levelled against the former PSC chairman ZN Tahmida Begum, the most controversial chairman in PSC history, who might be aware of many shady deals yet to be revealed. Regarding question paper leaking, the involvement of BG Press employees should also be investigated. There might be an ominous circle from Press to PSC working in an organised way. All perpetrators must face the music for what they have done to the nation to the people. They must be brought to book as 'traitors' so that in future nobody would dare partake in scandalous acts like them.

After the present military-backed caretaker government assumed the helm in January this year, some steps have been taken to purge the PSC of corruption. It has removed the suspected members from PSC, and appointed apparently good people in their place. It is a positive move. But it is not sufficient. The government has to cooperate with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) that should boldly come forward to file suits against the villains of PSC and arrest them, in quick course to prove their offence in trial procedure. The government must ensure that the villains cannot sneak out of the country to escape their due punishment. Alongside, the government must also be careful in manning the PSC anew, making sure that only tested people are appointed there. Political interference must be prevented at any rate, for future. Regarding this, the reformation of PSC with proper corrections in its rules may be necessary. Especially the appointment process of PSC personnel must be improved. The government has already started work in that direction. But make no haste take time to find out the best solution.

Finally, a few word about the screening process in BCS examinations. I suggest the public examinations and viva voce be held in a reliable and transparent way. If the examinations have to be acceptable to all, the leaking of question papers must be checked. The question paper leaking is the big evil, which renders the examinations questionable in the first place. Question setting and printing will be completed with utmost secrecy and any evidence of leaking ought to be taken seriously. The question-leakers must be treated harshly, with hardest possible punishment meted out to them. About viva voce my suggestion is: arrange it openly. It should be held in a place which can be observed by the interested public. It may be telecast live. Or, at least, a selected group of observers may be allowed to witness the viva proceedings at close quarters. And extra care must be taken in constituting viva board. No unscrupulous person should find room there. It should be a panel of experts, whose integrity is proven beyond doubt. A little mistake in handling things can turn the whole effort into a big failure.