THE SECRETIVE DEALS
F R Chowdhury 4 December 2018
In the lands of absolute monarchs, people rarely get to know anything in advance. It is all decided within the royal family. However, even in countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar, things are now changing. These changes are inevitable for the continuity of the regime. What they now have cannot be compared with democratic principle and procedures but at least it gives some opportunity to vent common feelings. Discussion in such Shura-Council sends advance signals to royal families to avoid extremely un-popular moves. This may best be called “something better than nothing”.
I still remember how the then president of USSR, Mr Gorvachov was trying to reform the Soviet Union. Two words often spoken by him were glas-nost and perestroika. The term glasnost meant open-ness, clarity and accountability. The term perestroika meant re-structure, mainly to differentiate between regulator and operator. This was a common problem with all socialist countries where the service provider was also the regulator. The Russian government has come a long way but still a far long way to go to embrace democracy.
The democratic system and procedures make it all proof – progressively collective decision-making. The minister in-charge identifies the issue and takes it to the cabinet to get approval of the government where other ministers will have their in-put. As the files move from one stage to another, the civil servants get their opportunity to express their views. If it involves a purchase or procurement or award of a contract for a project, there shall be public advertisement and a committee to review the bids. The lead ministry will play the key role but other concerned ministries will have their in-put. In the process it becomes a collective decision. There is no hide and seek. Everything is crystal clear.
There are other watch-dogs. The Accountant General (reporting direct to the president and not to the government) will ensure that all expenses are met from budgetary provisions and that the government does not go for public borrowing. Similarly the Auditor General (also reporting direct to the president) will conduct audit of the entire financial transactions to ensure compliance of procedures by the government. Finally there are all-party parliamentary committee to call and review the project at any stage. This is what we call democratic governance – check and balance.
Now let us discuss about an illegal government. An election where the party in power wins majority seats even before a single vote is cast is not an election. It is a farce in the name of election. The government elected through so-called election is an illegal government. After winning 2/3 majority, the first thing it did – change constitution to remove the provision of election under non-political care-taker government so that they can never be removed from power. They soon found an obedient and domesticated opposition party who also shared cabinet posts. Students of political science got new things to learn about. They found the existence of independent minded civil servants intolerable and hundreds of such civil servants were made OSD and later removed from service. Criticism of the government was considered as anti-state activity. Hundreds of dissidents were killed in so-called cross-fire and gunfight. Others disappeared never to be traced again. They named every road, bridge, structure and even the satellite in the space after one person and his family. They successfully got one step closer to “paribar-tantra” and “raj-tantra”. In last ten years the ACC found many cases of corruption but they all relate to people in politics but not the party in power. All politicians associated with the party in power are like angels. This is despite the fact that Hasina had more cases against her than Khaleda. Mr. Maya continued to be a minister even though he was a convicted criminal. Presidential pardon is kept reserved only for people connected with party in power.
In the last few days some Chinese built new ships joined the fleet of BSC (Bangladesh Shipping Corporation) ships. The minister said that soon many more such new ships are going to join. Good news. The state owned organisation finally got a saline-drip. It should have got this long ago. Why has it taken so long? Some say it took more than two years to decide the share of commission. But it was finally resolved amicably. After all in the whole of the parliament there is none to speak against them. Civil servants are now more than eager to serve their political masters. They all know how to please the wishes of the person on top.
This article started with how democratic system-procedure differs with those prevailing with monarchs and dictators. We shall go back there and see how the procedures were followed. If these Chinese built ships are given under any grant, then we will have no questions. We will cheerfully accept the gift. But if it is under any loan agreement then we have to see that procedures are followed because it is our money and one day we have to pay it back; and pay it back with interest. The Malaysian prime minister has already taught us how to refuse to accept such loan offer if that happens to be better in the national interest.
In this case, the GOB should have asked BSC to identify their requirement of ships and put them in order of priority – mother tanker, lighter tanker, box-ships, feeder vessels, bulk carriers etc. etc. The logical second step was to ask BSC to advertise in well-circulated papers in Dhaka and Beijing asking bids from reputable ship-builders in China both directly or through their agents in Bangladesh. The third step was for BSC to establish a technical team to negotiate with most competitive bidders to finalise choice/ list of equipment. Since it is the government who is getting the loan and standing guarantee against the loan, it makes sense for the government to be in the decision making body or team. BSC has to also select a top classification society under whose supervision the vessel must be built and classed. BSC has also to select the master, chief engineer and other superintendent/ manager to conduct the final sea trial. There must be provision for the services of a guarantee engineer for at least first 6 months and guarantee docking within 9 to 15 months of delivery (according to convenience of the owners).
No one develops the expertise over-night. It comes through knowledge and experience. I still remember how I was selected to take delivery of the first ever newly built vessel (m.v.“Banglar Kakoli”) for BSC. That was actually a yard re-sale when the original owners failed to take delivery. The yard gave finishing touches under our supervision. We negotiated the final builder’s supply and owner’s supply. We worked hard as we signed off each of the final test and trial. Nearly 40 years later today we remember those days with pride and joy. That was the way – together we built the foundation of shipping in Bangladesh.
As I ask my friends and colleagues in shipping circle in Bangladesh, it appears they are as ignorant as I am. Nobody knew anything about any public advertisement for procurement of ships under any Chinese loan or grant. The principle of democratic governance was nowhere to be seen. Apparently there is no reason to by-pass the established system and procedures. To a layman like me, bribe and corruption seem to be the driving force behind this secretive deal. Through this article I draw the attention of the ACC to investigate the ship purchase deal with China and find out the irregularities. This article clearly lays out various phases of such purchase/ procurement. That is the way it should have been done. That is the only right way. Any deviation is wrong and can never be justified. Is there any reason other than corruption for deviation from established system of democratic governance? We do not want anyone to escape by citing example of government to government deal. This will only point the finger to the highest seat of the government. The country is not in a war with another country. There is no state of emergency. – Then why cut corners? This shipyard is not the only ship-builder in China to be directly dealing under the Chinese government. The nation wants to know the truth. We want the ACC to identify the angels. Perhaps the angels are not so clean. The fake angels are hiding behind some so-called state to state deal. They must not be allowed to get away with it. The established system of democratic governance with all its check and balance must not be made redundant to allow money-making opportunities. If we were not allowed to choose from the best of China then why should we accept any such offer? Mahathir has already taught us how to refuse any such offer.
London, 01-December-2018. <fazlu.chowdhury@btinternet.com>
