At least 8.5 to 10.5 per cent corruption is taking place at the local government engineering department (LGED) involving project implementation. Lawmakers also interfere in the implementation of LGED projects and work is being distributed after a compromise between political leaders. LGED officials, such as upazila nirbahi officer (0.5%), executive engineer (1%), assistant engineer (1%), project consultant (1%), sub-assistant (3%), upazila engineer (1%), treasurer (0.5%) and accountant (1%) are involved in corruption.
It was disclosed at a survey report launching programme, titled “LGED: Problem in Good Governance And Way To Resolve Problem”, organised by Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB), at the CIRDAP auditorium on Sunday.
Chaired by former TIB Trustee Board member M Hafiz Uddin Khan, the programme was attended by local government specialist Dr Tofael Ahmad, professor of public administration department of Dhaka University Saluddin M Anisuzzaman, SUJAN secretary Dr Bodiul Alam Mojumder and LGED chief engineer Abul Kalam Azad. The executive director of TIB, Dr Iftekharuzzam, was the moderaor.
TIB researcher Naheed Sharmin and Shajada M Akhram jointly made a power-point presentation on the report, which was made from February-2010 to May-2013. It revealed information on corruption and irregularities.
The report says that people of the ruling party get 10 to 15 per cent money from LGED projects for their intervention in project distribution and implementation. It also reveals that politicians usually get 10 to 15 per cent from each project allotment.
The report says development projects are implemented only in the constituencies of ruling party agents.
It also says engineers and contractors mutually orchestrate the corruption in project implementation at the local level and are involved in irregularities. “The contractors receive the tender award at 5 per cent less and they increase 5 per cent of the cost during implementation of the project,” it adds.
The contractors also draw the bill of work without completion of projects. “The engineers concerned and employees of the LGED demand commission from the contractors when they draw the cheque of the bill,” the report says.
TIB also found that engineers do not bother about the quality of work as they influence project consultants.
TIB found that the quality, expected development and development efficiency of the officials concerned decline due to corruption, and rural development is severely getting affected.
Dr Tofael Ahmad said at least 70 per cent corruption would reduce, if a minimum 10 ministers and 10 secretaries remain free of corruption. He suggested that the LGED should have to work under elected local government bodies like municipality and union parishad to ensure accountability and transparency.
Ahmad said quality cannot be ensured in LGED projects as the contractors work under a syndicate. He added that the LGED should have work in collaboration with Planning Commission, implementation monitoring and evaluation division (IMED) and Comptroller Auditor General (CAG) to ensure quality of work and optimum use of public money.
Badiul Alam Mojumder said corruption will not come down until the will of local government bodies is not ensured. “If the LGED is stronger compared to local government bodies, there is no possibility to ensure quality of work, and transparency.”
But the reality is the LGED is financially stronger compared to local government bodies, he added.
Prof. Salauddin M Anisuzzaan raised questions on the quality of work in LGED.
“There is no accountability in LGED, which is required to ensure quality of work as well as optimum use of public money,” he added.
Dr Iftekharuzzaman said there was political intervention in every step of LGED projects.
Abul Kalam Azad said they will try to follow the suggestions of the TIB survey to revive the LGED’s image.
Courtesy of The Independent
