TIB calls for investigation into renewed luxury car proposal

The Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has said the Ministry of Public Administration’s push to buy luxury cars for the next government’s cabinet needs to be investigated, describing it as “overenthusiasm.”

In a statement on Wednesday, the local chapter of Berlin-based Transparency International, a global anti-corruption organisation, questioned why the proposal had been renewed after the finance ministry had previously rejected it.

“The reasons behind this overenthusiasm also need to be investigated,” the TIB said.

The finance ministry had earlier rejected the proposal to buy cars for the next government following criticism.

But the renewed proposal to buy them at an even higher price has been labelled by TIB as a repetition of the “overzealous flattery” of some bureaucrats towards possible future ministers, similar to the practices during the previous “authoritarian” government.

TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said, “The type of transport a minister is entitled to is clearly stated in Section 6 (a) of The Ministers, Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers (Remuneration and Privileges) Act, 1973.”

“Under the law, a minister is provided with one government car for round-the-clock use. Both past ministers and current advisors have been using cars accordingly. Why then is the Ministry of Public Administration so eager, in violation of the law, to purchase luxury Toyota Land Cruisers for future ministers? This is incomprehensible. We call on the government to investigate the reasons behind such interest.”

Iftekharuzzaman added, “If the interim government approves this decision, questions will inevitably arise as to on what basis it gave such priority. How can the government be certain that those who will become ministers in the next government will accept this decision?”

TIB also argued that such a purchase would contradict the government’s own decisions.

“Will this not be considered a contradictory act by a government committed to accountability and state reform? Who in the government will take responsibility for this?”

The watchdog also criticised the argument that the unused luxury cars imported duty-free by the 12th parliament’s MPs could be bought at lower prices and that “the existing vehicles will not suffice for constituency tours and urgent tasks.”

“The justification is truly astonishing,” TIB said.

The organisation demanded that the proposal to buy cars for future ministers be cancelled immediately and deferred for a decision by the next government.