TIB questions ministry's 'over-eagerness' to buy cars for future ministers
The anti-graft watchdog has called for an investigation into the reasons behind this move.
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has criticised the public administration ministry for its "over-eagerness" to buy expensive luxury cars for the next government's ministers, a proposal that was previously rejected by the finance ministry.
The anti-graft watchdog has called for an investigation into the reasons behind this move.
In a statement issued today (17 September), TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said the move raises serious questions about the ministry's motives, calling it a troubling repeat of "sycophantic behaviour" seen under the previous authoritarian government.
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Iftekharuzzaman said, "The law states that a minister is entitled to one car for official use at all times. Ministers in the past, and currently advisers, have used such cars. So why is the Ministry of Public Administration so desperate to illegally purchase expensive Toyota Land Cruisers for future ministers? It is incomprehensible."
The TIB executive director questioned the rationale behind the interim government's potential approval of the purchase.
He asked, "On what grounds would the government justify giving such priority to this issue? Where is the assurance that the future ministers would find this decision acceptable? Why is the government going down this self-contradictory path of making a purchase that goes against its own austerity policy?
"Will this not be considered a self-contradictory act by a government that is committed to accountability and state reform? Who will take responsibility for this on behalf of the government?"
Iftekharuzzaman described the move as an "embarrassing and self-defeating example" of a continuation of the culture of cronyism that became common during the previous government.
He 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.
