Civil surgeon office graft

Let us begin by praising the work of the probe body that has investigated the corruption so assiduously. We have long urged parliamentary committees and sub-committees to do a better job in performing their oversight role over the ministries and departments, and it is indeed heartening to see one such parliamentary body take its responsibilities seriously and investigate official misconduct in such a thorough manner. The actions of the probe body should serve as a template for other bodies' investigations.

Now the onus is on the administration to take cognisance of the report and to follow up with exemplary punishment for those who would be found guilty of the allegations. No time should be wasted in bringing charges against those who have been implicated and determining their guilt or innocence. Too often in the past, similar reports have been submitted but have not been followed up by the prosecuting authority, and those culpable have remained uncharged and unpunished. If the administration truly wishes to stem the corruption that is bleeding the public coffers dry, then it must begin to take action against the corrupt officials.

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The probe committee has reportedly uncovered a large network of senior officials who have colluded for years to siphon off crores of taka from the public exchequer. There can be no greater betrayal of the public trust than for public servants to pocket the money that they are entrusted to spend on behalf of the people. It is tantamount to the officials taking money from the hands of the public. The fact that the corruption was uncovered in the health service and that it was thus the sick and infirm who have been victimised only further underlines the perpetrators' lack of conscience. They must be brought to book.