Corrupt syndicates comprising unscrupulous contractors, vested quarters and their equally unscrupulous official patrons believed to have been swindling massive amount of money from four ongoing major development projects through increasing cost, prolonging completion time.
Experts feared that vested quarters was sabotaging the government development plans affecting the nation’s progress.
The cost of these four projects has increased by Taka 321.56 billion to Taka 716.27 billion from the original of Taka 394.28 billion. And most part of this enhanced money will be swindled, experts apprehended while talking to The New Nation on Saturday.
“This is nothing but an act felony and robbery. These culprits should be punished exemplary,” said a high-ranking official of the Ministry of Planning, pleading not to identify him.
These projects are-Dhaka-Chittagong Four-Lane Highway, Dhaka-Mymensingh Four Lane Highway, Dhaka-Chittagong Double Rail Line and establishing a Leather Industrial City at Savar under Dhaka district.
These projects construction costs had been increased 300 to 400 per cent while implementation targets or completion schedules delayed by 3 to 7 years by these “swindlers”, who belong to both local and foreign firms, official sources said.
The cost of Dhaka-Chittagong Four-Lane Highway has been increased by Taka 123.57 billion from the original 195.45 billion to 319.02 billion, Dhaka-Mymensingh Four Lane Highway construction cost increased by 91.31 billion from 90.20 billion to 181.51 billion and Dhaka-Chittagong Double Rail Line by Taka 53.34 billion to Taka 107.87 billion from the original Taka 5 4.53 billion.
The cost of establishing a Leather Industrial City was estimated at Taka 54.53 billion in 2003 but it was enhanced to Taka 107.87 billion in 2013, while another time extension was sent to the ECNEC this year for a further increase of the cost.
Officials said in most of the cases the cost of each project has been increased thrice and targeted time-schedule of construction completion of these projects extended along with increase of the cost by revising the Development Project Proposals (DPPs).
The ECNEC approved the establishment of Leather Industrial City at Savar on August 16, 2003 with a target of completing the project in 2010 at a cost of Taka 54.53 billion. The target-schedule, for the first time, was extended up to 2012. Then the time schedule was again extended by the ECNEC on August 16, 2013 and the cost increased to Taka 107.87 billion.
Bangladesh Small Industries Corporation (BSIC) was implementing the project, which could not be completed during the last 15 years due to failure of the agency to set up a Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP).
Knowledgeable sources said cost of the project would increase further and CETP setting up time-frame of the Leather Industrial City is going to be extended further.
