A 9-member committee investigates the corruption in the IT sector in last 15 years
A special committee of 9 members is starting work to examine the implemented and ongoing development projects, purchase plans and completed programs through the Information and Communication Technology Division and its subsidiary organizations in the last 15 years (from 2009 to 2024) during the regime of the recently deposed Awami League.
Md. Siddiqur Rahman Talukder, Deputy Secretary of Law Branch of Planning and Development Division of ICT Division is the member secretary in the committee formed under the leadership of Additional Secretary of Information and Communication Technology Division Mahbubur Rahman. Meanwhile, this committee has also held a meeting. The meeting was attended by Deputy Director of Directorate, Hi-Tech Park Authority representative, a2i Project Director Md. Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan and Development and Planning Branch of Bangladesh Computer Council Monirul Islam.
However, there was one representative of Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Department (IMED), Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU) constituted for government purchase evaluation, but no one was present in the meeting as the names of the concerned officials were not selected. Similarly, the technical expert was also absent.
In this regard, the head of the committee, Mahbubur Rahman, said that former state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak has taken many projects under the ICT Division. We have asked for information on all projects. We will look into these projects, whether there was any problem or corruption. Some unnecessary sectors including consultants have also been shown under the project, I will see those issues too. In a word, I will analyze all aspects of the project.
Although no time has been set for this, he has expressed his determination to work quickly and efficiently even if there is additional responsibility in the national interest. He said, the inquiry will also find out the type of procurement of the project, PPP evaluation, PCR review and audit report which will be taken into account if the PPP contract is uneven. How people-friendly the project really is will also matter. At the same time the unnecessary matter will also be identified. In fact, overall evaluation of projects implemented and under implementation in the last 15 years will be done.
Mahbubur Rahman also said that the evaluation committee will verify the latest updated progress reports of the ongoing projects of the organization. One representative from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and one representative from the investigative institution will be taken as technical experts in the investigation of corruption. Later, if required, IT experts will be recruited from other organizations. With them, the implementation progress of 22 ongoing projects in the ADP of 2024-25 financial year from the Information and Communication Technology Division and the organizations under it will be verified; the remaining activities and the necessity of carrying out those activities will also be examined.
22 projects are ongoing and 33 projects have been completed through 8 organizations under the ICT Division so far. The number of completed programs is 33.
