We have been raised since childhood to always tell the truth. Truth is taught as the greatest virtue in school, family, and society. But real life gradually teaches us another hard truth that telling the truth is not always safe. Many times, telling the truth means putting yourself at risk. Until a few years ago, I myself believed that if you do the right thing, the right thing will win in the end. But the reality of work life has quietly shattered that belief.
I saw a person very closely who did not consider telling the truth to be a bravery, for him it was a responsibility. He used to say that I got a job here based on my qualifications, my family's livelihood depends on this job, so I cannot be a part of any irregularities. I liked hearing those words, but at that time I did not understand that such people are actually the ones who are most at risk.
The incident happened around 2018 when I was in charge of the CD of the factory and Sir was the superintendent of the entire factory. A car had an accident at night, just a short distance from the factory, but the assistant manager did not tell any of us about this incident because he got the news in his sleep and thought that it was a normal incident if it was reported in the morning, but 4 people died in that incident. So before my sir and I knew it, it was in the news. And the factory's CO Sir Kitnu found out that we did not know anything about this.
The next morning, when the incident was no longer suppressed, everyone started looking for the truth, but the culprit. The system did not ask who knew or who did not tell. The system only wanted a name, on whose shoulders the blame could be placed.
But sir or I did not get the news yet, that was the reality. Where there is no evidence, power has the last word. To avoid the four death cases, the upper class easily made an honest person from the lower class guilty.
He did not shout, did not go to the media, did not try to be a hero. He just said that I did not do anything wrong. But in this society, many times telling the truth does not mean being a whistleblower, but being a scapegoat.
In the end, he had to spend 1 year in jail, was fined 10 lakh taka and was fired.This is where the question arises whether he was a whistleblower or was he just a man who wanted to live without compromising his principles. We often say tell the truth and stand against wrongdoing but no one says what the consequences might be. No one says that after telling the truth, there may be no job, no respect, no family security. This is why many times people remain silent, they do not love lies, they just want to save themselves.
Whistleblowing is a moral responsibility on paper, but in reality it is a kind of risky loneliness. Where no one holds your hand if you do the right thing, but everyone gradually moves away.
Even today, it seems that if he had been a little less honest and knew how to manage a little, he might still be in office today. But then he would not have been him anymore.