AN Executive Magistrate at Laxmipur Deputy Commissioner’s office, Sohel Rana, allegedly looted around 200 Hilsha fishes breaking lock of a cold storage from Matirhat Bazar at Kamalnagar Upazila of the district.
A probe body was formed headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Kangkan Chakma in this connection. He visited the spot on Friday and collected information from witnesses and victims.
On Wednesday night, magistrate Sohel Rana introducing himself as a NDC conducted a fake mobile court drive and took 200 Hilsha fishes breaking lock of the cold storage, said the victims. On Thursday, fish traders submitted a written allegation to the DC. Kangkan Chakma said that he would submit the investigation report to the DC.
Twelve fish traders kept Hilsha fishes in the cold storage to make profit in Pohela Baishakh. The prices of the 200 Hilsa fishes are around Tk 4 lakh. DC Zillur Rahman Chowdhury said that the magistrate was not assigned to run any mobile court and they were not informed about the drive.
Criminal activity by government officials are unfortunately nothing new. Many articles have been written in the print media recently about the criminal activities committed by certain employees of our law and order officials. While it is true that they are not elected but instead of appointed to the posts it is unfortunate that certain sections of them choose to be so rent seeking and interested only in the fulfillment of their own desires. But it is unthinkable that an officer of the law — who is responsible for maintaining the law and order, should break it in so callous and wanton a manner in order to simply add to his own wealth.
What, then, can be a solution to this wanton criminality? The answers are of course known to everyone. Ensure that appointment of public officials are carried out transparently without partiality or prejudice. Seek only the best and brightest and pay them handsome salaries to ensure that they have no reason ever to line their own pockets. And in the rare event that one does indulge in a bit of nepotism or corruption — punish him in such an exemplary manner that all who observe will think twice about committing the same act again.
Unfortunately, both the solutions are not being followed properly by our administration — we are selecting incompetents for positions, which demand a high level of skill or judgement simply based on their bias towards a certain ideology or due to his capacity to provide financial relief to those who appoint. This has to change. Having an ACC which is basically a paper tiger is another reason why no one is bothered – if caught, accountability does not exist. Punishments will, at the worst, be being made an OSD — which is sort of a perpetual vacation at public expense, or suspension, which is only marginally worse. Accountability must be brought to ensure respect for public monies. Public funds are not funds to be used for private consumption.
