Press Release
Dhaka, 20 February 2024: The Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) minister has announced a block allocation of Tk 20 crore over five years for implementation of development projects in each constituency. However, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has raised concerns regarding potential misuse and wastage of public funds, citing previous experiences with similar development projects. TIB is also urging establishment of a transparent and accountable governance mechanism to ensure proper utilization of allocated funds.
On 18 February, the LGRD minister informed the parliament that each Member of Parliament (MP) could receive Tk 20 crore over five years for implementing development projects in their respective constituencies. The process of finalizing a project in this regard is currently underway. TIB's concerns stem from its previous study titled "Governance Challenges in the Implementation of the Infrastructure Development Project under Constituency-Based Block Allocation", published on 12 August 2020. The study uncovered that the schemes under the projects were deemed essential at local level, but their quality of work did not meet expectation. This discrepancy was attributed to compromised relationships fostering mutual benefit and commission trading between the contractors and their supervisory authorities involved in planning and execution of the schemes. Consequently, irregularities and corruption within the schemes led to squandering of public funds, ultimately benefiting vested quarters.
TIB Executive Director (ED) Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said, “Despite the gradual increase in constituency-wise block allocations, there has been historical negligence in ensuring proper fund utilization and governance in these projects. Lawmakers, who have sole authority over monitoring and addressing complaints related to the projects, often endorse irregularities for personal gain, leading to compromised transparency and accountability.”
The TIB ED highlighted that such schemes provide opportunities to many parliamentarians to abuse political power, engage in nepotism, and gain unethical financial benefits, ultimately normalizing corruption at the local level and misusing state resources.
Referring to the 2020 study, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman further said, “Specific recommendations were made, but no noticeable initiatives have been taken to implement those to ensure good governance in use of constituency-wise block allocations. TIB is now calling for a comprehensive and neutral scrutiny of the previous projects, funded through block allocations, before allocating new funds. The organization also advocates for implementation of a proper monitoring and evaluation system as well as a mandatory code of conduct addressing the lawmakers' integrity and conflicts of interest in executing development schemes.”
Media contact:
Mohammad Tauhidul Islam
Director, Outreach and Communication
Phone: 01713107868
Email: tauhidul@ti-bangladesh.org
