In Bangladesh, there was a time when rich people used to give away a certain amount of their wealth to the underprivileged. From gold or silver coins to chunks of precious stones, from valuable items of personal use to an acre of land, a 'bakshish' was donated as specific reward, goodwill gesture or even sign of respect to anyone who deserved so.
Generally, the charity is given without any obligation in exchange of a service provided by the receiver - partly as an empathetic compulsion for people who have deserved patronage or recognition while partly owing to a sense of philanthropic accomplishment.
However, individual experiences and media reports suggest a different story. Recently, the definition of 'Bakshish' evolved from a cultural phenomenon to a source of socioeconomic frustration. Citizens face the brunt of such practice when they deal with governmental staffs and even junior officials.
At Sylhet and Chittagong airports, passengers frequently claim to have been harassed after they say 'no' to Bakshish - an unlawful act of charging people without prior authorisation in exchange of undertaking public responsibilities. Regardless of illegitimacy, perversion of the so-called idea of Bakshish is evident at all levels.
Apart from governmental institutions, private enterprises and even the courts of law are not spared from Bakshish. The overall purpose has become quite synonymous with extortion - either you give a Bakshish or face a service delay or further trouble. Therefore, expecting a Bakshish can be considered a moral degradation of society and needs to be addressed in legal discourses so that social customs never end up with wrong people.
Syed Ali al-Masud
South Central Road, Khulna
- Friday, 22 November 2024 |
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