Need for an indigenous-style development

Humans establish institutions for the necessity of larger scale activities. However, institutions often become obstacles better outcomes if the people working there are not conscious about their roles and responsibilities towards the society. Institutions may provide anonymity for personal interest when people inside forget their own mandate. Some government offices, political groups, and private organisations demonstrate this type of trend.

Why does it happen? Are Bangladeshis less responsible than other nationals? Are they more self-oriented than others? Of course, not. Many foreigners agree that people in this country, particularly in rural Bangladesh, are full of hospitality to others. They value social bondage and ties and perform properly in their community. In village communities, everybody knows his/her own duties and responsibilities. Most of the time, people behave as expected by others with whom they interact in the community.

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On the contrary, when one goes to a government office in Dhaka to ask for something, he/she most often cannot expect good performance from officials and employees. He/she has to be patient enough to wait for a long time. His/her request is shelved, delayed and sometimes not handled according to the normal procedure. However, the situation becomes almost opposite if he/she knows someone in the office. Then his/her request is heard and fulfilled. In this sense, Bangladesh is a big village. When one shows a certain tie to the "community", he/she is treated with some responsibility by the members of the "community." Such behavioral pattern does not fit in the current institutional system.

During the past twenty years, many Bangladeshis have left their country for 'better and secure' life, especially for their children. I believe that no one wants to abandon his/her homeland if there is a certain condition for better livelihood. I have heard many people saying, "If Bangladesh was safe, clean, and disciplined like America or Japan, I could stay in my country with my children without worrying about their future." Also I have heard "If everyone thought and behaved considering benefit of others too, Bangladesh would not have become such difficult place to live for ordinary people." It is understandable that everyone has the right to search for better and happier life in his/her own way. But to those who left or may leave the country, I have one request -- do not forget your bondage with the country and try contributing something or returning back someday.

Because of the absence of institutional management, social system in this country does not serve its real purpose. Politicians cannot lead the country and its people. Many services still are not fully reliable. Sometimes people have to wait more than one year to get a new telephone connection. A number of hospitals cannot provide adequate medical facilities to patients. Many roads are pile of rubbish. Police service seems less interested in providing security to the nationals.

Institutional system is not indigenous here. Frankly speaking, Bangladeshis seem not comfortable in working in the 'system'. It might be because such system was brought by British administrators in order to rule the people, not to serve the people, in British colony. However, after nine months of bloody war in 1971, Bangladesh became an independent country. The state is now responsible for protecting its people and providing necessary facilities for its nationals. In order to do so, modern institutions are necessary and institutional management that accelerates their function is inevitable.

Bangladesh has a rich culture and tradition. It has its own social traditions and values which originated from a mixture of religious influence -- Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, and others. All of those exogenous values are incorporated together and created the rich tradition and culture of this country. Considering that it seems institutional management that fits Bangladesh has yet to emerge. It should be established by the sons of the soil. It might be neither Western management nor Japanese management style. It may be an indigenous Bangladeshi one.

Bangladesh cannot be developed or changed by outsiders. It is the people in this country who can initiate change and recovery from mental inertia, political instability, lack of security, environmental degradation, traffic indiscipline, corruption, and many other ills. To tackle this, one can go back to the village and remember the values that are shared among the people in the community for the benefit of all. In creating an indigenous system of development, such values should be incorporated institutionally.

Chieko Yasuda, a rural development specialist, is an ex-JICA expert for PRDP.