Demands are being raised to publish white papers on the Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa), Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB), Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television (BTV), Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Dhaka City Corporation and other government organisations as these government institutions were the most affected by financial irregularities, corruption and abuse of power during the last decade under the past regime.
The interim government has already formed a committee on August 29 to prepare "White Paper on the State of the Bangladesh Economy." Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, distinguished fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), is leading a 12-member committee, as announced by the press office of Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus. The same committee or new committee can be entrusted to prepare white papers on the above mentioned government institutions. The people have a right to know how the government institutions have been stigmatized by corruption, irregularities, highhandedness, favouritism, authoritarianism and personal whims during the Awami League regime.
WASA:
Media reports revealed that Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority WASA's former managing director Taqsem A Khan has transformed the organisation into a den of corruption and financial irregularities. Wasa was turned into a "personal property" of its former managing director. Khan was appointed as WASA managing director in 2009. Later, his appointment was extended seven times. The last extension was in August 2023. All were done in an authoritarian way violating WASA rules.
The ACC found excuses were made to get extension of MD's tenure and additional funds worth of billions taka were sanctioned without completing WASA projects within the stipulated time. ACC found involvement of high officials, engineers and managing authorities in rampant corruption and irregularities.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) identified 11 sources of corruption in WASA that serves the capital. It has sent a report with 12 recommendations to cap the sources of corruption to the local government ministry five years ago. Nobody dared to take any action against Taqsem A Khan as he has patronage from the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government.
The report flagged Tk 46 billion Sayedabad Water Treatment Plant (Phase 3), Tk 52.48 billion Dhaka Environmentally Sustainable Water Supply Project, Tk 31.82 billion Dhaka Water Supply Network Development Project, and Tk 35.08 billion Padma (Jashaldia) Water Treatment Plant Construction Project (Phase 1) among the schemes tainted with graft.
ACC also mentioned Tk 2.52 billion project to supply additional water, Tk 3.17 billion Dasherkandi Water Treatment Plant Project, Tk 240 million project to develop drainage system at Agargaon, and another Tk 5.21 billion project in Mirpur which show irregularities and corruption.
Taqsem has been accused of various misdeeds over the years, including being selected and reappointed as the MD for seven consecutive terms, in violation of Wasa's bylaws. His reappointments were deemed "questionable" by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), which also demanded a neutral audit of his performance. The audit is yet to be held.
His salary and other facilities were raised a number of times though Dhaka city people did not get proper service from WASA.
During Taqsem's leadership, Dhaka Wasa has not been able to fix the city's waterlogging issue, in addition to failing to provide safe water to its customers. Given Wasa's repeated failure to resolve the issue of waterlogging, Dhaka's two city corporations took over drainage management in 2020. Additionally, it was discovered that the Buriganga River was polluted by Wasa's sewage systems.
According to a TIB investigation, 62 percent of those who applied for water and sewage connections from Wasa said they encountered harassment and anomalies.
Residents paid Tk 1,066 crore between FY 2018-19 and FY 2020-21 for sewage treatment, a service that was barely provided. In FY 2021-2022, it was almost Tk 400 crore. Why, therefore, should citizens pay for a service that doesn't exist, the city dwellers raised questions and graft.
BSS:
The government spends more than Tk 380 million a year to run the Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), government owned news agency. The amount is rising as a result of recruitments and promotions on whims and irregularities by the management.
Sources familiar with BSS reported that the government allocation for BSS in the 2023-2024 fiscal was Tk 386.9 million. Of this, Tk 300 million was spent for salaries and bonuses.
Since the 1990s, both the BNP and Awami League governments have been associated with various mismanagement issues, including politically motivated recruitment of persons, rule violations in promotions, and favouritism.
The daily Prothom Alo recently published report on the irregularities and corruption by the management in BSS during the last few years.
Abul Kalam Azad, who has been removed as managing director of BSS after the fall of Awami League regime, ruled BSS according to his personal whims often violating his official capacity. His appointment was extended several times as political favour by the Awami League regime.
Azad has been serving as the national news agency chief from 2014 to 2024. Previously he was entrusted with the position of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Press Secretary from 2009 to 2014. He also enjoyed government favour when he was appointed as Press Minister in Bangladesh embassy in Washington in 1997 by the Awami League government.
Sources indicate that, historically, recruitment, promotions, and annual salary increases are done in BSS, as determined by the management board following rules.
However, this was often disregarded by Abul Kalam Azad. Several employees of BSS have claimed that Abul Kalam Azad, upon becoming managing director, appointed his six relatives to the organisation. Former chairman advocate Yusuf Hossain Humayun also accommodated three of his relatives. All these appointments were made violating BSS service rules and organogram.
According to sources, although transportation expenses are included in the salary and allowances, Azad took an additional Tk 23,000 per month for car expenses and regularly received fuel expense allowances.
Attempts were made to reach Abul Kalam Azad via calls and text messages for comments on corruption, irregularities and favouritism and other complaints. But he could not be reached.
Abul Kalam (Manik), a former news editor at BSS, has submitted multiple written complaints to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), alleging corruption amounting to Tk 2 billion due to rule violations by MD Azad. However, the ACC has not investigated these claims. Azad used PM office to influence ACC not to proceed with the allegations against him.
Meanwhile, a new Board has been formed for BSS by the Information Ministry. Journalists and other employees expect that the new Board will probe into the irregularities and corruption in BSS.
Press Institute of Bangladesh
Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) Director General Zafar Wazed took over as the PIB DG on April 21, 2019. After that, his contractual appointment was extended several times.
Zafar Wazed was removed from the organization after the fall of Awami League regime. Zafar Wazed had to quit following protests by officials and employees of the institute.
The protesting staff claimed that they had long suffered under the rule of Zafar Wazed, who they accused of abusing power and engaging in corrupt practices.They alleged that Zafar Wazed had taken on two positions on the same day by manipulating the system.
Further allegations included financial misconduct, with accusations that temporary workers were involved in stealing large sums of money under the pretence of administrative activities.
The employees and officials of PIB accused Zafar Wazed of harassment, administrative misconduct, and corruption. They demand a thorough investigation of the allegations against him. They demand that the new Board will make a thorough probe into the irregularities and corruption of Zafar Wazed.
Bangladesh Television (BTV):
Bangladesh Television (BTV), which has two full-fledged centres and 14 sub-centres across the country, receives government allocations. BTV's budget for the current year is over Tk 3.2 billion.
The audiences said BTV has been derided for its coverage. Media experts said BTV's popularity declined as subsequent governments made it their mouthpiece.
BTV airs nine news bulletins daily. Four of these are 30-minute bulletins in Bangla and English and the remaining are brief bulletins.
According to BTV newsroom, there are more than 200 employees, 45 reporters compared to 120 to 130 staffs in newsrooms of private TV Channels.
According to information from BTV sources, the state-run TV channel's budget in the current fiscal (2024-25) is over Tk 3.2 billion. The allocation has increased by Tk 90 million compared to the previous year.
Among the two full-fledged centres and 14 sub-centres, BTV's Dhaka centre located in the capital's Rampura is the most important. The centre gets more allocation. In the last financial year, the expenditure of this centre was Tk 1.36 billion. The revenue of this centre was Tk 1.3 in this centre.
The total income and expenditure of all the centres in the last financial year could not be known.
As a state broadcaster, BTV has the opportunity to broadcast World Cup football matches for free; BTV bought the broadcasting rights of the 2022 World Cup for Tk 980 million from a private company called Toma Construction and Company Limited. That was the only instance of buying broadcasting rights of the World Cup and it was done to facilitate the business of Toma Construction. It is alleged that one of Awami League's central organising secretary is involved with Toma Construction.
During the student-led movement the Rampura BTV Bhaban was set on fire by agitated students and people after the fall of Awami League regime. People now demand White Paper on the irregularities, corruption and politically motivated news coverage by BTV during the last regime.
The Bangladesh Betar:
The government spends more than Tk 2 billion for this state-owned wireless media. Bangladesh Betar has about 3,000 employees at the 14 centres across the country, including more than 500 BCS officials. Despite all this, Bangladesh Betar is not popular and hardly any listeners. This government agency has huge expenditure , but earns less than Tk 100 million.
Where the private radio stations have only one or two studios, Bangladesh Betar has 81 studios. There are 15 studios in Dhaka alone. It has advanced technology waves, recording and broadcasting systems. For instance, it uses 1000-KW short waves, which enables people to hear the programmes from any corner of the country.
Accounts department officials say nearly Tk 2.1 billion has been allocated for Bangladesh Betar this year.
The officials say some 45 per cent of the allocations are spent for the salary and allowances of the radio employees. The state owned broadcasting media has more than 2,900 employees. Of them, 500 are from BCS (Bangladesh Civil Service) cadres.
Around 1,000 of the Bangladesh Betar employees work in the news section. This account is based on the employees at the 14 radio stations. Recently 35 new posts have been created in the programme division. Apart from this, there are 35,000 listed artistes of Bangladesh Betar. They get an honorarium of Tk 200-1,300 depending on categories, which the artists complain as not only poor but also as irregularly paid. A White Paper will reveal the irregularities and failures of the state-run radio.
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy : The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against 24 individuals, including former Director General of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Mohammad Liaqat Ali (Lucky) and Director Jahangir Hossain Chowdhury.
The alleged case alleges that the accused illegally appointed 23 candidates to 10 positions by manipulating written exam scores, causing a financial loss of Tk 85 million to the government. ACC Deputy Director Sumitra Sen filed the case with the ACC's integrated district office in Dhaka recently.
The accused include former Director General Mohammad Liaqat Ali (Lucky), Director Jahangir Hossain Chowdhury, Cultural Officers Al Mamun, Md. Hamidur Rahman, Begum Sudipta Chakraborty, Hasan Mahmud, Begum Runa Laila Mahmud, Assistant Director (Budget & Planning) Begum Samira Ahmed, Stage Manager Begum Rahima Khatun, Guide Lecturer Md. Mahbubur Rahman, Music & Instrument Instructor Begum Meen Ara Parveen, Dance Instructor Begum Priyanka Saha, Instrumentalists(Grade-3)Narayan Deb Liton and Md. Ziaul Abedin, Dancers(Grade-3) Begum Laila Yasmin, Begum Miftahul Binte Masuk, and Begum Sumaita Tabassum Dhanum, Singers Begum Roksana Akter Rupsa, Abdullah Al Rafi Talukdar, Md. Sohanur Rahman, Begum Abida Rahman Setu, Begum Mohona Khas, and Cameraman( public) Md. Rubel Mia.
According to the case details, the accused conspired to manipulate written exam scores by fraudulently increasing marks for disqualified candidates. This enabled the illegal recruitment of 23 individuals to various positions. After these appointments, the selected candidates drew salaries and allowances from government funds, causing a financial loss of Tk 82.8 million (nearly $770,000).
Leaqat Ali Lucky got extension of his contractual appointment a number of times only on political patronage from the PM office of the last regime. Country's cultural figures were deprived and unhappy over the repeated extention of Lucky's tenure which turned him as arrogant and unaccountable during his rule in Awami League's regime. He was removed from Shilpakala Academy after the fall of last government.
The employees in the Academy and cultural activists feel that a White Paper will reveal many irregularities, corruption and abuse of power by Liakat Ali Lucky.
The recent media reports on irregularities, corruption and abuse of power by Mayors in Dhaka City Corporations and other government bodies justify the demands for White Paper on these institutions.
