Govt backtracks plan to buy luxury vehicles for future ministers: Finance adviser

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A  proposal to purchase 60 luxury vehicles for the cabinet members of the next elected government has been scrapped, Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed said on Tuesday.

He announced the decision while briefing reporters at the Secretariat after a meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase (ACCGP) he presided.

“The Ministry of Public Administration placed a proposal to buy 60 vehicles for ministers of the next government. But that proposal has been cancelled,” Salehuddin said.

However, the committee approved the procurement of around 300 vehicles for officials engaged in election duties at district and upazila levels, he added.

According to finance ministry sources, the Public Administration Ministry had earlier proposed buying 60 Mitsubishi Pajero QX (2427cc) vehicles, each costing Tk 1.69 crore, with a total expenditure of Tk 101.61 crore. The Finance Division endorsed the proposal on August 24 after receiving it on August 19.

The matter drew widespread criticism after it was reported in the media on September 4. Following the backlash, the finance adviser confirmed that the plan has been shelved.