Are we on a Titanic Cruise?

The impact of the movie "Titanic" resonates deeply, as it captured the hearts of many during our formative years. This iconic film conveyed several profound messages. It highlighted the vulnerability of objects we often deem invincible by illustrating the sinking of the supposedly unsinkable Titanic. The portrayal of the wealthy facing destitution, the unexpected nature of love, and the willingness of individuals to make the ultimate sacrifice for love all left a lasting impression.

However, the most significant lesson from the movie lies in the Titanic's ill-fated decisions. The ship exceeded the permitted speed, flouted regulations to hasten its journey, and underestimated the size of an iceberg, only observing its tip. These mistakes led to catastrophic consequences.

In a broader sense, the Titanic's story is a metaphor for situations in the modern era. There are instances where we can only perceive a fraction of the truth, akin to seeing merely the tip of an iceberg. This analogy hints that our understanding of complex issues may only scratch the surface, representing a mere 10% of the larger reality.

Recently, the media has been ablaze with reports of former government officials involved in irregularities. It's not just a distant issue but one that hits close to home. Two former Inspector Generals of Police (IGPs) are suspected of amassing a fortune while in power. The most recent case involves a teenager, the son of a current National Board of Revenue (NBR) official, who made a sacrifice worth over half a crore taka! This could be just the tip of the iceberg. Imagine how many IGPs have been involved and how many NBR officials are there. With only one or two cases exposed in the media, it's not hard to imagine how many are still out there with lavish apartments in posh areas, how many homes they have built for their family outings, and how many of their children are studying abroad or in some of the most expensive schools in the country.

My father was an economics teacher, but I struggled to understand the subject. Economics seemed like a game of numbers and assumptions, and it's puzzling that our per capita income exceeds 7,500 USD. At the same time, many middle-class families continue to struggle.

Before retiring, my father served as the Chairman of Jashore Educational Board. When I enrolled at Notre Dame College, some parents learned about his former position and immediately asked, "How many apartments do you own in Dhaka?" Their disbelief was evident when I explained that we don't own any property and reside in a rented house in Mohammadia Housing Society at Mohammadpur.

When my father was the Inspector of Colleges of the education board and later its Chairman, I witnessed his unwavering commitment to honesty and fairness firsthand. Despite his position of power, he never allowed me to use the office car for my school commutes; instead, he provided me with a bicycle. I also recall instances where he firmly turned away visitors who attempted to bribe him with money in exchange for special approvals, resulting in my father being assigned special duty (OSD). These personal anecdotes serve as a beacon of hope, showing that ethical behaviour is not only possible but also necessary in our society.

During our time, we had wealthy friends, but most came from business families. Nowadays, the affluent youth mostly come from government employees' families and a few from business backgrounds. Unsurprisingly, this generation is more inclined towards securing a government job.

I remember a friend telling me he had secured a posting in Dhaka by giving six- crore taka! I asked him how he managed that, considering his father had yet to amass a fortune. He explained that he had sold some of their land back home, borrowed money from many people, and was confident that he would recover it within a year. Surprisingly, it took him only eight months to repay the borrowed money and regain the sold lands.

The extent of corruption and bribery that have taken root in our society is hard to fathom. It feels like we're sailing on a ship, the Titanic, unaware of the dangers lurking beneath the surface. We've hesitated to address these issues as we've only seen part of the problem. However, if we ignore them, our ship of progress and prosperity will inevitably collide with these hidden dangers. It's a severe situation, and the potential consequences are deeply troubling.