Despite government-declared austerity measures in place till December, proposals for buying new cars are yet to tamed amid coronavirus pandemic.
The Ministry of Public Administration has proposed to purchase 69 vehicles for 38 deputy commissioners, including the offices of ministers, advisors, state ministers and deputy ministers.
The ministry concerned has asked the Finance Division for around Tk 53 crore to buy these cars. Among them, there are 7 microbuses for administrative work of ministers, advisors, state ministers and deputy ministers and 45 jeeps and 17 microbuses for DCs.
However, the finance division has returned the documents rejecting the offer to buy the vehicles as in the current Covid-19 situation buying cars by any government agencies amounts to violation of a circular on austerity measures. This information has been found from the relevant sources of the finance division.
Sources further said that the Finance Division had earlier approved a proposal to buy 50 jeeps for Upazila Nirbahi Officers amid coronavirus pandemic at a cost of around Tk 47 crore.
This is because the proposal was approved before the circular was issued putting austerity measures in place.
In this context, the former caretaker government’s financial adviser Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam told that the misuse of money mounts when vehicles are bought for the ministries for no reason. It is positive that it has been suspended, he said.
Mirza also said, “I support such a move by the government not to spend money for procurement of car in that situation.”
According to sources, the Finance Division has said that in view of the ongoing Covid-19 situation and the austerity policy of the government, the purchase of all new and replacement of existing vehicles under government and semi-government, autonomous and other organizations will be stopped till December 31. A circular has also been issued in this regard two months ago.
As a result, according to the circular, the finance division has so far refused to pay for the luxury expenditure for the proposed purchase of 69 vehicles.
Sources further said that a proposal to buy a car was recently sent to the Finance Ministry from the Ministry of Public Administration. According to the proposal, 7 microbuses would have to be procured for administrative use in the offices of ministers, advisers, state ministers and deputy ministers.
It was further said that instead of the existing two cars in each of the 38 Deputy Commissioner’s office, two jeeps have been included. As a result, 38 jeeps needed to be procured for protocol work in 38 districts, according to the proposal.
The proposal further said that as per the decision of the Deputy Commissioners’ Conference, 7 jeeps are required for use in the protocol work of Rangamati, Khagrachhari, Bandarban, Sylhet and Jashore Deputy Commissioners’ offices.
ask/wi
