After the media reported on the use of cars by the interim government’s advisors, widespread criticism was sparked on social media. Many of the advisors are paying little attention to the use of government cars. There are allegations that some advisors, abusing their power, have kept three to four cars in the name of themselves and their departments. The family members of the advisors concerned are using those cars frequently.
Not only that, the advisors’ private secretaries, assistant private secretaries, public relations officers, and in some cases, are driving the cars. Analysts believe that the interim government will establish rules in the interest of the people. This is everyone’s expectation. From using cars indiscriminately, the advisors have taken some actions that contradict the core spirit of the anti-discrimination student movement.
An investigation by the daily newspaper Samakal says that out of the 22 advisors in the interim government, all but eight are using more than one government car. Only Commerce Advisor Sheikh Bashir Uddin does not drive a government car because he is an industrialist and has a more luxurious car than a government car. That is why he uses a personal car for government work.
After assuming office, all advisors are allocated a Toyota hybrid car each from the Department of Government Vehicles or Transport Pool. They are also receiving an amount equivalent to 18 liters of fuel oil per day. However, the investigation has shown that family members of some advisors are using expensive cars from various departments and organizations.
For this, multiple drivers and drivers behind these additional vehicles have been provided by various departments, and the relevant departments are spending about one lakh taka per car every month for fuel and maintenance costs. The newspaper also says that Farooq-e-Azam, advisor to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief and the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, is leading in terms of using government cars.
The advisor is using two government cars to exert influence. Of these, one is taken from the project of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, and the other is a transport pool car taken from the government transport pool. Most of the time, it is used for the advisor’s family’s work. The advisor’s driver, three or two, do the duty of the advisor.
And the driver of the Disaster Management Department, TTU, always does his home duty. There are two more cars allocated in the name of Faruk Azam’s office. They are used by his PSO PRO. The report also mentions that Salauddin Ahmed, the Science and Technology and Finance Institute, is using three cars alone.
Meanwhile, Youth and Sports Advisor Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, along with his PSO MPS, is using six cars. Advisor Supradeep Chakma Ali Imam Majumdar is using multiple cars, in addition to Advisor Sarbika S Murshid, AFM Khalid Hossain is driving their ministry cars. However, the family members of both of them are using the pool cars.
Meanwhile, the health institution Nurjahan Begum has only allocated one vehicle from the pool but has got two drivers. They are Habibur Rahman and Sukanta Kumar Ujjal. Driver Habibur said, “We both do health advisory duties.” In 1973, the Ministers, Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers Act stated that ministers, state ministers, and deputy ministers, that is, current advisors, will get a vehicle for full-time use with ministerial status, the maintenance cost of which will be borne by the government.
Later, the amended law said that they could use an additional jeep for emergency department work or when going on a scheduled trip outside Dhaka. In these cases, the concerned ministry’s office or organization will have to provide the jeep.
Regarding the use of cars by advisors, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh and Head of the Anti-Corruption Reform Commission, said, “It is important for this government to ensure that there is no waste of state resources and no violation of rules. The interim government will set some precedents that will serve as an example for any political government later on.
And if it does not do so and continues in the same vein, it will be an abuse of power and a tragedy.” Badiul Alam Majumder, Editor of Citizens’ Appeal for Good Governance and Head of the Electoral Reform Commission, said, “If this is the case as in the past, it is unacceptable in any way.”
The public expects that they will leave the past behind and welcome the new. He urged anyone who makes a mistake to step back from it. The issue of advisors’ use of cars has already caused quite a stir. The common people did not take it well on social media. Many have also explained the issue as old wine in new bottles.
