Spending by past AL, present BNP govts under JS scrutiny: Dr Taher  

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts will scrutinize allegations of corruption and financial irregularities in government expenditure during the 17-year rule of the Awami League, the subsequent interim government and the current government.

The Committee will examine audit objections and allegations of misuse of public funds and take necessary action against those responsible if evidence of corruption or financial irregularities is found.
The information was disclosed by Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, chairman of the Committee and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the parliament, after a meeting of the Committee on Tuesday.

He said government expenditure under all past administrations would be reviewed in phases, with priority given to audit objections from the recent past so that officials and other individuals currently responsible can be brought under accountability.

“Reviewing government expenditure and discussing audit objections raised by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), and taking necessary action, are among the key responsibilities of the Public Accounts Committee,” Dr Taher said.

He added that if evidence of corruption or financial irregularities is found in any case, the committee would initiate an investigation and recommend appropriate action against those responsible.
Medical university audit objections Several significant audit objections were discussed at Tuesday's meeting, with eight objections involving Bangladesh Medical University receiving particular attention.

Although some of the objections have already been resolved, the committee decided to investigate the remaining issues. A subcommittee has been formed for this purpose and instructed to conduct an on-site investigation and submit its final report within one week.

According to committee sources, serious irregularities have allegedly occurred in the distribution of income generated from diagnostic tests at Bangladesh Medical University.

Under government rules, specialists are entitled to 30 percent of the profit generated from diagnostic tests after deducting the expenses incurred in conducting the tests. However, allegations have surfaced that the 30 percent was calculated on the basis of total revenue rather than the actual profit.

Explaining the issue, Dr Taher said that if an institution earns Tk 100 from a particular service but spends Tk 90 to provide it, the actual profit is Tk 10. Under the rules, specialists should receive 30 percent of that Tk 10 profit.

“But according to the allegation, 30 percent was calculated on the entire Tk 100,” he said.

As a result, officials allegedly received additional payments in violation of government rules, he added.

The committee has instructed the authorities to investigate whether the practice violated laws and government regulations and to take necessary measures to recover any excess payments.

Dr Taher said allegations suggested that the amount involved could run into crores of taka. He said the committee had also instructed the authorities to report the progress of recovering the excess money every month.

The Public Accounts Committee said it would not limit its scrutiny to Bangladesh Medical University. Major financial irregularities involving various government institutions and development projects will also be given priority.

Long-pending audit objections as well as recent cases of financial irregularities will be reviewed in phases, the committee said.

In particular, audit objections relating to the 2024-25 fiscal year have been given priority. The committee believes this will help ensure accountability of officials and individuals who were recently in charge of relevant institutions and activities.

Dr Taher said audit objections arising during the interim government and other previous administrations would also be reviewed gradually.

He said instructions had been issued to prepare a priority list of cases involving allegations of major corruption or financial irregularities.

The committee is also focusing on the speedy resolution of audit objections, alongside identifying irregularities in government expenditure. Officials concerned will be held accountable if any government institution fails to provide satisfactory responses to audit objections, he said.

Dr Taher also said the committee would regularly brief the media on its decisions and activities. Decisions taken at each meeting will be communicated through press briefings, he said, expressing hope that the initiative would further strengthen transparency and accountability in the committee's work.