The tendency to form a syndicate and plunder as soon as the slightest smell of profit is found is a very common image in Bangladesh. Strong syndicates are working on the ground in all areas like bus stand, market system, education, health, services etc. When the business booms, the syndicate is strong.
The kitchen market before Ramadan and leather market after Eid ul Azaha; nothing are spared from their greed. Even onions, green chilies, etc. are not exempted from the greedy tongue.
Now that the coronavirus (Covid-19) has spread in the form of a pandemic, the syndicate has become very active. Shahed-Sabrina was caught but many elusive big fishes are still being netted. Many hospitals are operating in the name of corona treatment without proper permission, regulations and without necessary equipments. They are squeezing large sums of money from patients. False certificates have caused extreme disaster in the field of personal and public health.
Investigations into the extreme corruption scandal involving Shahed-Sabrina have uncovered the involvement of many political and administrative figures. Even beside them, many virtues of the society known as 'conscience' (!) have been seen.
The same is true of education, especially of higher education, as is the case with the health system. Many private universities are selling certificates without ensuring qualified teachers, infrastructure and quality environment. They are not being forced to follow the instructions and rules of the government.
Syndicate violence is also seen in many consumer goods and services organizations, which control the whole thing as their own. The government and the consumer force the people to buy inferior or inferior goods at higher prices.
Institutional syndicates, secret syndicates, etc., under different names and forms of crime and looting are going on in different sectors, in which thousands of crores of rupees are being looted from the pockets of the public. But that money is not deposited in the public sector as tax, it goes into the pockets of some mafias.
Not only Dhaka or big cities, but also district cities and muffasills have spread various types of syndicates. Between the government and the people, these middle-class mafias called syndicates are cutting in two like shells. On the one hand, it is tarnishing the people-friendly policies and programs of the government and on the other hand, it is causing hundreds of misery by snatching money from the common man.
As a result, it is important to think deeply about the issue without being shocked and exaggerated by one or two Shahed-Sabrina issues. Why a profitable crime syndicate is formed, the answer to this simple question needs to be known.
Although the question is seemingly simple and straightforward, the correct answer cannot be given in one word. Multidimensional and multi-level problems are not answered in one word. The answer has to be found only by filling in the gaps and loopholes in various fields like political, economic, social, administrative etc.
However, the answer is more important for the government than it is for the general public to know. It is in the interest of the government to find out how a lucrative crime syndicate is being formed freely without the control and authority of the government. Otherwise, these syndicates will destroy people’s goodwill to the government by squeezing the throat with ten hands like an octopus.
In order to fully establish good governance and people-oriented system, such a vicious circle called syndicate must be eradicated forever. The environment for syndicate building and allies must also be removed. The sooner this is done, the sooner the suffering of the people will be reduced, the image of the government will be brighter and the activities of the government will be more dynamic and people-friendly, freeing our people from the clutches of the syndicate and bringing relief and peace.