Ministry Expresses Doubts Over Excessive Enthusiasm by Government for Procuring Vehicles for Potential Cabinet Members in Advance
In a surprising turn of events, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has raised concerns over the public administration ministry's plan to buy expensive luxury cars for the next government's ministers. Iftekharuzzaman, TIB's Executive Director, issued a statement today (17 September), describing the move as an 'embarrassing and self-defeating example' of a continuation of the culture of cronyism.
The government is planning to spend Tk445 crore to buy 280 cars for election-duty officials and incoming ministers. Iftekharuzzaman found it incomprehensible why the Ministry of Public Administration is so desperate to purchase expensive luxury cars for future ministers, especially given that the law allows a minister to have one car for official use at all times.
The Finance Adviser has stated that the government will not buy luxury cars for future ministers. However, the responsible person for the possible approval of the proposal to purchase motor vehicles worth Tk445 million for future ministers is typically a high-ranking government official or committee, but the exact individual is not specified in the information provided.
Iftekharuzzaman questioned the rationale behind the interim government's potential approval of the purchase of cars for future ministers. He asked on what grounds the government would justify giving such priority to the purchase of cars for future ministers. He also demanded that the proposal to buy cars for future ministers be immediately cancelled and the matter postponed until the next government can make its own decision.
The plan was previously rejected by the finance ministry. Yet, it seems the Ministry of Public Administration is pushing for its implementation. Iftekharuzzaman described the ministry's actions as a troubling repeat of 'sycophantic behavior' seen under the previous authoritarian government. He asked who will take responsibility for this on behalf of the government if the purchase of cars for future ministers is made.
TIB has called for an investigation into the reasons behind this move. The move raises serious questions about the motives of the Ministry of Public Administration, and iftekharuzzaman stated that it raises serious questions about the motives of the Ministry. He also questioned why the government is going down a self-contradictory path of making a purchase that goes against its own austerity policy.
Ministers in the past and current advisers have used such cars, but the question remains whether it is necessary or justifiable to spend such a large sum of money on luxury cars for future ministers, especially in light of the current economic climate and the government's stated commitment to austerity. The public will be watching closely to see how this situation unfolds.
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