Generally, benevolent deeds are performed by leaders according to well defined principles and Holy Scriptures. If rules and regulations are not respected while carrying out some actions by those who lead, common people may face oppression – a disease that impacts their lives at the personal, social and national levels. While applicable to the good deeds, principles are necessary also for acts of subjugation, protection and prevention within a society. To stand against corruption, disorder and thievery, it’s not possible to act without following the rules set by scriptures.
Currently, the Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) is being overused against corruption and corrupt people. Frankly speaking the honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that strong measures would be taken against corruption. Before that statement, she had ordered an inquiry directed against government personnel who apparently were continuing with their corrupt practices even after their salaries and pension were increased.
The energetic drive of anti corruption commission and the statement of honorable prime minister, taken together, clearly expressed the will of the government to save the nation from the plague of corruption. The question is whether the system envisaged by the scriptures is achievable or not.
It is almost impossible to answer the questions concerning the quantum of corruption that has been prevailing in Bangladesh for the last decade. But some incidents involving corruption, disorder and money laundering can be cited. For instance, in 2016 about 101 million dollars from the reserves of Bangladesh Bank reserves under the federal reserve bank of New York in USA was stolen. 80.1 million dollars were sent to the Philippines and an additional 20 million dollars ended up in Sri Lanka.

During 2010-2012, the branch of Sonali Bank located in the Hotel Ruposhi Bangla reported the defalcation of about Tk 26.68 billion by some employees involved with the dealings of the notorious company named “Hallmark”. Basic bank is another victim of the money laundering fraud. From April 2012 to March 2013, within 11 months, about Tk 40 billion were given as loan through a dubious process. At the same time an institution named Bismillah Group made off with over 8.57 billion taka that was taken away from Janata Bank by eight unregistered institutions including MH Golden Jute Mill. Without following the regulations, Janata Bank has given loans and privileges amounting to Tk 55.04 billion for 6 years to a single person. The scam of Farmers' Bank also deserves mention.

According to a report published by Prothom Alo on 24th june of 2016, 55.89 billion dollars, which equals 4.41 trillion taka, was stolen from bangladesh. More than 3 thousand people sent the money to Malaysia for the campaign of ‘My Second Home'.

On a different note, what does the sacred scripture say about this disorder, corruption and laundering? About two and a half thousand years ago an Indian philosopher named Chanakya also known as Kautilya or Bishnugupta, composed a scripture named Arthashastra. This scripture is called the Arthashastra of Kautilya although in reality it discussed political science.

The Maurya Dynasty in India was established by Chandragupto Maurya. Kutilya was the Prime Minister and the teacher of King Chandragupto. It is a matter of great wonder that whatever he had written in the Scripture, incorporates the theories of politics, diplomacy, public administration, sociology and economics in almost equal measure. Kautilya has stated that the success rate of every entrepreneurship depends on credit. So the greatest importance should be paid to money reserve. There are about 24 ways to steal reserved money. As it is impossible to taste honey when you have poison at the tip of your tongue, in the same way a guard cannot but help stealing the money from the reservoir. It cannot be seen if the guard is stealing money, his activity can be compared to the swimming of fishes under the water. The flying of birds above our head is visible yet the activity of the guards is not'.

Kautilya had suggested the recruiting of detectives for detecting the money laundering gluttons and royal employees who embezzled money from public fund. The women had been given more emphasis for arresting the gluttonous money launderer.

Our readers might have understood the relationship between corruption and economics. Whatever happened in Bangladesh during the last decade supports the observations made by Kautilya without modification. After investigation of the Hallmark scam, the parliamentary committee had submitted a report. It said that the scam resulted from the failure of the chairman and governing bodies of the Sonali Bank, whose job it was to ensure security. The mechanism of the scam was the brain child of the administrator of hotel Ruposhi Bangla branch, AKM Azizur Rahman, it was no invention of the consumer and director of Hallmark, Tanvir Mahmud. Other employees also joined the scam. The committee added that the health advisor of the then Prime Minister, Syed Modaccher Ali visited the branch not only for withdrawing money from his pension account but also during the celebration of events sponsored by hotel Ruposhi Bangla on the request of AKM Aziz. His frequent visits to the bank weren't appropriate with his rank. The administrator had misused the prestige of the advisor for self-interest.

The leader of the investigation committee was the current Local Goverment Minister, Tajul Islam and the Chairperson of the committee was the current Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, but the report was never released publicly, surprisingly.

The investigation of ACC reveals the involvement of 27 employees in the basic bank scam. The investigation report of Bangladesh Bank stated that some employees along with the Chairman Abdul Hai were responsible for the scam. It’s been proven that several employees were also involved in the scam of Bismillah Group. Many executive members were also responsible for the scam of Janata Bank.

Government employees have been proven guilty in every notorious incident of corruption along the lines described in the scripture of Kautilya. Monetary corruption involving general people is profitable for a handful but this causes a great loss to the nation as well as the state. The scams of Sonali Bank, Basic Bank and other banks might have helped a small amount of people to earn illegal wealth. One exception is the robbery of the reserve of Bangladesh Bank that enriched the smugglers and casino owners of foreign lands and in the Philippines. Last January, the former branch administrative of local Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), Maya Santos Deguito was sentenced to prison for 32 to 56 years by the courts there. But, the culprits of Bangladesh remained untouched.

Recently, honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared, “I’m aware of the fact that people from different sections of the society are in discontent regarding the matter of corruption. Personnel who are involved in corruption are being requested to correct themselves. Tenacious steps will be applied to uproot the tree of corruption. We’ve taken steps to erase corruption through expanding the use of information and communication technology.”

It must be noted that science and technology are being used by corrupt people. So it’s evident that the government will use technology for curbing corruption. But, the initiatives taken against corruption must be discussed. If it fails, technology won’t be able to ensure the security of national reserve. Awareness must be raised concerning the roles of government office bearers and national reserve. it is necessary to recall that 'royal employees' will try to grasp the wealth of national reservoir whenever they get the chance.

Md Sharif Hasan teaches International Relations at the University of Rajshahi.