Standing Committee on Public Accounts discussed 14 audit objections at 27th meeting
The majority of the issues were permitted to be reconciled as long as proper documentation was submitted
The 27th meeting of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts of the Eleventh National Parliament has discussed 14 audit objections and the committee recommended the disposal of the issues following specific instructions.
The meeting was held in the Cabinet Room of the National Assembly on Sunday, and Md Rustum Ali Faraji, chairman of the committee, presided over the meeting.
Committee members Md Abdus Shahid, Md Shahiduzzaman Sarker, R A M Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury, Mustafa Lutfullah, Waseqa Ayesha Khan, and Md Zahidur Rahman participated in the meeting.
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Among the issues, the non-collection of fines worth Tk660,720 from a contractor who failed to implement a project, the deduction of Tk211,528 less than the value added tax (VAT) from the contractor's bill and the reduction of income tax of Tk136,745 from the contractor, caused financial loss to the government.
Based on this objection, the meeting asked that the issue be reconciled upon the submission of proper documents – subject to the satisfaction of the audit office.
Meanwhile, the advance payment of Tk716,387 to a contractor, showing additional sand supply; loss of Tk362,321 for non-reduction of VAT from the advance amount; as well as snatching of a motorbike and theft of other materials incurred a loss of Tk120,000 to the government.
Based on this objection, the committee asked that the matter be settled upon proper documentation being submitted – subject to the satisfaction of the audit office.
For another objection – that Tk430,613 has been paid additionally to a contractor showing the execution of an additional job than the actual one – the meeting recommended action be taken against the responsible persons and the objected money be collected from the individual concerned.
For two other objections – that the government had incurred a loss of Tk24,902 as less income tax was deducted from the contractor's bill, and that the government lost Tk82,428 as the price of old bricks was not realised by the contractor – the meeting recommended the objections be settled by the submission of proper documents.
Md Nazrul Islam, secretary of the Road Transport and Highways Department of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges and relevant officials from the Audit Office National Parliament, were present at the meeting.
