They are interested only in personal gains

AWARDING work order to the shipbuilder for delivering wooden bench by ex-VC of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University in Gopalganj has stunned the nation. Flouting public procurement rules, Dr Khondoker Nasiruddin assigned Khulna Shipyard (KSY) to supply office and lab equipment and make wooden benches and hostel beds.
Nasiruddin had inked deals worth Tk 28 crore in June with KSY, to purchase computers and lab equipment. Of the amount, BSMRSTU has already paid about Tk 26.25 crore in advance. The KSY states that the company builds large patrol crafts, inshore patrol vessels, oil tankers, cargo and container vessels, tugs, inland and coastal work boats, heavy duty speed boats, barges, ferries, floating cranes, pontoons, etc. It also reads KSY is the first and the only warship builder in Bangladesh.
On the other hand, there is no scope for direct contract in procuring furniture and office equipment. Section 76 of Public Procurement Rules 2008 points out the circumstances under which direct procurement method (DPM) will be applicable. An organisation could only go for DPM if there is no alternative source, goods are perishable, goods come as addition to existing tender, exceptional benefit is offered, there is a legal binding to procure from locals for their poverty alleviation, goods are bought from state-run industry on special occasion, or there is an urgent necessity of goods to face natural disaster and emergency. What’s most surprising is that the amount was paid to the company as advance after the project director resigned protesting anomaly and corruption.
According to information available, the university did not have any urgent need for these materials either. Under the project, it ordered about 2,000 six-foot long benches made of Mahogany wood. The unit price of each bench was fixed at Tk 11,100. The state-run Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation (BFIDC) said the government rate for a six-foot long bench of A-class wood is fixed at Tk 10,670. A-class wood includes timber of Mahogany, Gamari and Rubber trees. In other words, the university could have saved at least Tk 8.6 lakh on furniture alone, if it had opted for an open tender.
One thing is clear that the politically appointed VCs used to remain busy for their personal interests. Here, BSMRSTU VC was no exception.