Staff Reporter :
During the previous Awami League regime, Dynamic Solutions Innovators (DSI), a software company, allegedly thrived in a culture of corruption, securing projects worth hundreds of crores through bribery and undue influence. Most of these projects either failed to deliver results or were never implemented at all.
The company faces allegations of corruption, substandard technology, and political interference in project approvals. Experts have described inflated project costs as “a sophisticated form of corruption,” stressing that those responsible must face exemplary punishment.
Despite widespread reports of irregularities in projects such as the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS), the Integrated Education Management Information System (IEMIS), Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) automation, and various primary education initiatives, DSI has reportedly re-emerged in the changed political climate, once again trying to expand its influence.
CRVS Project: Limited Results despite Massive Spending
The CRVS project, launched in 2014 to digitize birth, death, marriage, and divorce records, began pilot operations in Cox’s Bazar, Jamalpur, and Gaibandha. However, despite costs ballooning from Tk 47 crore to Tk 300 crore, the project failed to achieve nationwide rollout before its tenure ended in 2022.
Most areas of the country still rely on paper-based or fragmented systems. Allegations of corruption, biased contract awards, low-quality software, and inflated bills persist. Although audits were carried out, their findings remain unpublished.
IEMIS: A Dormant Platform
The Integrated Education Management Information System (IEMIS), launched in 2018 with a Tk 23 crore budget, aimed to create unique digital profiles for students from grades six to twelve, tracking enrollment, academic performance, and attendance.
Despite its four-year timeline, the project was never rolled out nationwide. No public portal exists, and only limited work was completed in select education boards. Investigations revealed that the software was too weak to handle large-scale data. Allegations also include inflated hardware costs, unnecessary purchases, and duplicate payments for the same tasks.
BCIC and Other Projects
Through collusion with a former minister and corrupt BCIC officials, DSI won the Integrated Business Process Automation Platform project. Similarly, the Integrated Primary Education MIS (IPEMIS), funded by UNICEF and ADB, was marred by allegations of unnecessary equipment purchases and DSI’s controversial involvement.
The Integrated Service Delivery Platform (ISDP), under the Access to Information (a2i) program, was also deemed a failure, dogged by accusations of widespread corruption.
Reports claim that DSI official Asadullah Sarkar played a central role in securing these projects through bribery and political lobbying, gaining notoriety across government offices.
Fertilizer Management Tender Under Scrutiny
Fresh allegations have surfaced regarding collusion in the tender for an “Online Fertilizer Management System,” intended to digitize fertilizer distribution from storage facilities to dealers.
In June 2024, four companies were shortlisted for the Integrated Business Process Automation Platform. By July, in an unusually hasty process, attempts were made to award the work to DSI, allegedly backed by officials loyal to the previous government even after the July uprising.
On August 5, BCIC reportedly inserted tender conditions favoring DSI. Despite a written objection from BASIS (Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services), BCIC ignored the concerns. Observers say the move reflects a long-standing nexus of collusion and authoritarian practices.
Silence from Authorities
Repeated attempts to contact BCIC Director (Planning and Implementation) Md. Delwar Hossain went unanswered. Officials confirmed that investigations are underway, with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) gathering evidence of irregularities.
The committee drafting the country’s ICT White Paper has also acknowledged reviewing corruption allegations linked to these projects.
DSI Chairman Mozahidul Islam could not be reached despite repeated attempts.
Calls for Accountability
Experts have urged the government to publish all independent investigation and audit reports concerning DSI projects. They stressed the need for punitive action against those responsible and called for blacklisting the company to prevent further misuse of public funds.
