Media report in a national daily on Friday said most of 8,500 post offices transformed to provide IT based services are hardly functional. Widespread graft and embezzlement of fund obstructed fully implementing the project. The project titled “IT-based rural post offices” was taken up at a cost of Tk 541 crore in 2013 and reportedly completed in 2017. But as subsequent media report showed most of the new post office buildings were not equipped with IT services and remain closed, two government probe committees found a dismal picture all about it.
It appears project officials procured expensive equipment on paper to show maximum expenditure but evidences of their use were mostly missing. The project was initially launched to give a new look and meaning to rural post offices now in dilapidated condition throughout the country turning them into
IT-based service centers in two-room buildings. Apart from running postal services which lost significance now to mobile based services, the new facilities were also supposed to become computer learning and training center, printing photographs, scanning, emails and receiving online test results for local people. Disbursement of social safety net allowances, agent banking services were also included but these remained so far on paper while funds were mostly grabbed.
Need no mention that project officials, contractors and party leaders siphoned most of the money. As it appears the government machinery is highly corrupt at all levels, leaders always shelter such corruption and share benefits. But it has rendered useless the move to transform old rural post offices into new roles that benefit social transition.
Probe reports found 5,500 post offices were converted into e-center but equipment were not either installed or left packed in boxes. Now when it comes about accountability of project mismanagement, there is none to shoulder the blame. The present Telecommunications Minister reportedly said it was under the previous State Minister while everyone is ultimately blaming the former Director General of postal services who is on retirement. Meanwhile, out of Tk 540.65 crore project the whereabout of Tk160.29 crore not accounted.
It is no help to find failure in postal system. We have to ask the questions, though not in charge, how such government clings to power? It is our national squeamishness and corruption among public servant making the impossible possible. However incompetent and dishonest the government is, there is no way of peaceful change. The situation is becoming explosive but the government has no time to bother about it. Our timidity is the strength of the government. It is national shame.
It appears project officials procured expensive equipment on paper to show maximum expenditure but evidences of their use were mostly missing. The project was initially launched to give a new look and meaning to rural post offices now in dilapidated condition throughout the country turning them into
IT-based service centers in two-room buildings. Apart from running postal services which lost significance now to mobile based services, the new facilities were also supposed to become computer learning and training center, printing photographs, scanning, emails and receiving online test results for local people. Disbursement of social safety net allowances, agent banking services were also included but these remained so far on paper while funds were mostly grabbed.
Need no mention that project officials, contractors and party leaders siphoned most of the money. As it appears the government machinery is highly corrupt at all levels, leaders always shelter such corruption and share benefits. But it has rendered useless the move to transform old rural post offices into new roles that benefit social transition.
Probe reports found 5,500 post offices were converted into e-center but equipment were not either installed or left packed in boxes. Now when it comes about accountability of project mismanagement, there is none to shoulder the blame. The present Telecommunications Minister reportedly said it was under the previous State Minister while everyone is ultimately blaming the former Director General of postal services who is on retirement. Meanwhile, out of Tk 540.65 crore project the whereabout of Tk160.29 crore not accounted.
It is no help to find failure in postal system. We have to ask the questions, though not in charge, how such government clings to power? It is our national squeamishness and corruption among public servant making the impossible possible. However incompetent and dishonest the government is, there is no way of peaceful change. The situation is becoming explosive but the government has no time to bother about it. Our timidity is the strength of the government. It is national shame.
