In the developing world, corruption and irregularities know no bounds. In many of these countries, large-scale embezzlement often goes unpunished. Even after committing massive corruption, many perpetrators remain beyond the reach of justice.
While some may be arrested and face jail time or fines after a regime change, it is not uncommon to see them acquitted and walk free once the political tide turns. They then re-emerge, cleansed of guilt, and return to power through elections.
This raises the question: why are their reputations tarnished in the first place, if they are later declared innocent? And how can the same court that once found them guilty later absolve them with a mere stroke of a pen?
Just because someone is released after a political shift doesn’t mean that these countries are free of corruption. On the contrary, media outlets regularly expose scandals so horrific that they send shivers down the spine.
These harrowing tales of plunder are deeply painful and raise a fundamental concern: can any society truly function like this?
The greater tragedy is that in many of these countries, individuals once imprisoned for corruption often return as powerful figures. Their images are then polished and presented as morally pure to the public.
Until the people of these nations learn to detest the corrupt and boycott them socially, it will be impossible to uproot corruption. Their return to politics will also remain unchecked.
And yet, we all know the truth: in national elections, candidates often spend hundreds of millions of taka — sometimes as much as 100 to 200 crore. Where does such money come from? Were all these individuals born with silver spoons in their mouths? Were their ancestors kings, emperors, or feudal lords?
In these countries, the Election Commission usually sets spending limits for candidates. But they overlook the vast sums candidates spend — both overtly and covertly — to win elections.
Bribes to administrative officials, unchecked campaign expenditures, and vote buying are rampant. There are virtually no precedents of authorities taking meaningful action against this. The implication is clear: the system offers no real remedy.
While some cases of corruption are proven in court, many more are not. Still, local communities are rarely deceived — they know who is honest and who is not.
When they witness blatant vote-buying and the equal monetization of local officials, law enforcement personnel, and election workers, what further evidence is needed?
If corruption cannot be curbed by law in these countries, then what is the solution? The only answer is that people must awaken. They must understand how their tax money is being plundered.
Once they realize this, they must resist the culture of corruption socially. Without such collective resistance, corruption, looting, and money laundering will continue unchecked across the developing world.
Expecting those who benefit from the system to fix it is nothing but wishful thinking — and those who believe so are merely living in a fool’s paradise.
