Violates govt rules to get one at cost of public money
Staff Correspondent
In breach of government rules, Roads and Highways Department (RHD) has lately invited tenders for a cross-country vehicle to be used by Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain.
According to procurement rules, a department cannot usually purchase of its own accord any vehicles, computers, furniture or other things.
For a purchase, it must go through the establishment ministry.
Only in certain circumstances can a department make a purchase and that too on approval from the establishment ministry or the ministry concerned. However, this rule does not cover buying a vehicle for use by a minister.
Usually, the transport directorate under the establishment ministry supplies vehicles for the ministers. Its concerns include maintenance of the cars and supply of fuel for them.
According to an establishment ministry official, a minister can use a vehicle belonging to a department under his ministry. But that does not mean a vehicle can be bought for that purpose bypassing the establishment ministry.
In an advertisement published in a national daily on March 18, RHD invited formal offers to supply an inspection vehicle for official use by the communications minister. The last date for buying tender is April 15.
Bids are to be accepted till 12 noon the following day and opened the same day.
Placed by Rafiqul Islam, executive engineer of RHD procurement and storage division, the tender ad says the vehicle shall be “brand new, latest model, year of manufacture not before July 2008, and designed according to latest technology. The interior shall be stylish and elegant look (sic)”.
The communications minister has already got a Nissan compact from the transport pool. As per government rules, a minister cannot have more than one official vehicle.
A high official of the transport pool said ministers, state ministers and others of similar ranks are entitled to a vehicle with at least 1600cc engine.
During the BNP-Jamaat alliance rule, the cabinet approved rules that for official tours outside the capital, a minister can take high-powered all-wheel drive from a department under his ministry.
In that case, the government will provide fuel.
The communications minister could not be reached for comments.
The information officer of his ministry said the vehicle that RHD has assigned for use by the minister was bought in 1999. Since that car is deemed too old to be used in long tours, the department has opted to buy a new car.
He also claimed RHD has followed transparent and proper procedure in obtaining approval for the purchase.
Courtesy of The Daily Star
