PEOPLE in our country have seen a lot of struggle. They do not usually lose hope in the face of adversity or loss. There is an inherent quality in us that keeps us going resilience. However, there exists a stronger force that is threatening to break that resilience and make us all lose hope for good, that being the unabated corruption within and by authoritative bodies of Bangladesh that are supposed to safeguard and guide us. The recent revelation of the dishonest activities of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) in their misuse of government project vehicles stands as proof of one of many such instances.
The government imports vehicles using tax money and foreign funds to be utilized in various projects conducted by the LGED, which is under the LGRD Ministry. According to reports, currently at least 70 project cars have been illegally possessed by staff members of LGED (including staff members on leave), Ministers, PM’s advisers, secretaries and PMO staff amongst many others. Notable mention would be assistant engineer Atiar Rahman who has two cars in his possession ¾ one is being used by his wife, the other by his former wife whom he divorced years ago. One might think this is part of the script of a comedy film, but shockingly this is all too real. The LGED lends these cars, often indefinitely, as chips for gaining favour of powerful Ministers and key public officials. In return, projects involving huge sums of public funds and foreign contributions get hasty go-aheads without adequate scrutiny, internal audits of LGED get relaxed, and so on.
Although the Government derives no benefit from the use of these project cars literally handed away as gifts, it still bears the cost of fuel, maintenance, drivers’ salaries etc. LGED ends up spending about 2 lakh per day, adding up to 7.3 crore per year, in maintaining these cars. According to reports published by national dailies, in 2012 the LGED purchased three luxury vehicles (SUVs) for approximately Tk 11 crore with funds committed to the Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP) even though car purchases with PEDP funds is unlawful.
The Anti-Corruption Commission has begun an investigation into these purchases. LGED officials are very confident and vociferous in their stark denial of the accusations of using project cars for personal use in the face of ample evidence to this effect. Some of Ministry officials enjoying the “gifts” of LGED feigned absolute ignorance to the source from where these cars manifested in their possession. Ours is a country with immense potential for business investment and development. However, the infrastructure in our country, or more appropriately a lack thereof, is acting like a bottleneck of our development. The huge sums of money allocated by the Government to the LGED to enable them to deal with this grave crisis is often seen to be splurged mindlessly at the whim of some corrupt, irresponsible and unconscionable officials in the above described manner, among others. May be the next time we come across a backward village or a dilapidated highway, we could thank the LGED for their sincere efforts.
