Unequal rules

The luxurious foliage that formed such a pleasant natural barrier around one side of the National Parliament didn't come up on its own. It was planned, planted and nurtured. So when nature chose to uproot, twist and mangle many of those trees in the form of an unusually savage nor'wester, it did more than exhibit its power, it creates business opportunity for more than a few. There were photographs, TV coverage and even emotional articles in the media. Sadly, no one seemed to have cared a whit about replacing these.

As it is trees are an endangered species and from the formal figures Bangladesh has only 8.0 per cent out of the 25 per cent landmass, of natural forest cover that is mandatory in maintaining environmental balance. Apart from the regularly pilfered trees on government land and alongside roads, unplanned harvesting contributes to the decline. Reserved forest areas are a lot thinner than they're supposed to be and following long drawn, unequal battles protectors have for all practical purposes become part of the unholy nexus. And it took a social media protest to try and stall, if not overturn the mindless idea of razing decades' old trees along the Jessore-Benapole road. It was a protest too, against taking the word 'sustainable' out of the phrase and re-terming it as 'development'. There's no question that had it been a private initiative the Department of Environment and the Forest Ministry would have become involved.

It would seem there is one set of rules for the government and another for the citizens. Just as there is crass discrimination in traffic rules, where several dictates are at play. A set for private buses and human haulers, a set for trucks, yet another for rickshaws, another for CNGs. The two unique ones are kept aside for very special consideration. One exists for private cars. The other, for the commuter friendly motor cycles, doesn't exist at all. Fast becoming the most popular form of public transport under the umbrella of Pathao, these vehicles enjoy a special consideration not quite but almost equal to the impunity that's demarcated for the VIPs. These superb vehicles weave, snakelike between other transport, merrily pick the gap at traffic points -- no matter what the signals are and there are some mind boggling invectives used should they be challenged. And let's have some heart for the traffic police. They even came up with the idea of using a rope at intersections to prevent this Merry penchant for violations. Why that has disappeared isn't clear. What is, is that police just can't chase every motor cycle that plays hooky.

When it comes to utility connections one hardly ever hears of a government organisation having its electricity or water connections snapped for non-payment of dues. Some may recall a time when a list of parliamentarians came out in the media for massive telephone bills that remained unpaid. The Prime Minister had entrusted the Chief Whip to ensure MP occupied the hostels: apartments they have been allotted. What can't be recalled is of any action being taken. And so the aptly termed 'mango people' pay for their utility connections with supplies not bring nearly adequate. The consequence is reaching ridiculous proportions. The National Board of Revenue (NBR) have laid claims on massive VAT not being deposited by the Petroleum Corporation. The  harried Power  Development Board Chief is running after the Bangladesh Bank to find out how he can get back the funds deposited with Farmers' Bank that has 'vanished'.  Without such funds fuel can't be imported to generate more power and the vicious cycle turns full.

The 'speed' money or 'incidental expenses' incurred in facilitating approval of building plans from the authorities notwithstanding, 12,000 multi-storied buildings in Dhaka are reported not to have any parking space. And while private telecom operators have their bank accounts frozen at the drop of a hat, Teletalk continues to operate without clearing its dues to the Telecom regulator. And while the Large Tax Payer Unit (LTU) moans about not getting a green signal to wrest some Tk 16 plus billion from British American Tobacco, no one is asking why is there discriminatory tax on the same priced products? It sounds similar to a joke that did the rounds famously in the corporate world . 'I summoned this meeting, because I can'!

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