TIB's report on public universities

Transparency International Bangladesh's (TIB) report on recruitment of lecturers in as many as 13 public universities makes for grim reading. The anti-corruption watchdog brings to light cases of corruption and irregularities at these varsities where lecturers have been appointed in exchange for brown envelopes. It is indeed deeply disturbing that while appointing a teacher at the highest seat of learning, indeed any seat of learning, the authorities should look for anything else but a person's academic records. 

Unfortunately, we have witnessed a pattern of denial on the part of any institution that had come under TIB's radar. Instead of taking corrective measures, a net of apprehension was cast over the very motive behind these reports. Instead of dismissing this report summarily, the authorities would do well to take cognisance of it since there may be credible grounds for the findings. 

Given the alacrity with which corruption has spread its tentacles far and wide in our society, the TIB's report, though disquieting, needs to be taken in earnest. A well-carried out survey is a government's best friend, as it gives the latter an unadulterated assessment of the reality on ground and helps the concerned authorities to take corrective measures. 

Corruption is a sad part of our life. Neither the authority's denial nor its knee-jerk response will help to eradicate this menace. TIB has taken the laudable steps of finding the lacunae, and we believe, it is incumbent upon the authorities to plug the hole in the system. Shooting the messenger never helps.