No new cars for future ministers Finance Adviser
Staff Reporter :
No new vehicles will be purchased for future ministers, but the government has approved a proposal to procure around 300 cars for field-level officials ahead of the national election, Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed said on Tuesday.
He made the announcement while briefing journalists at the Secretariat after chairing a meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase (ACCGP).
Earlier, several media outlets, including The Business Standard (TBS), reported that the Ministry of Public Administration had sought approval from the finance ministry to buy 60 vehicles for ministers, advisers, state ministers, and deputy ministers of the next government.
Responding to these reports, Salehuddin said, “I don’t know where you saw this. Some media quoted me as approving vehicles for ministers, but that’s not true. The ministry did send such a proposal, but I stopped it. There will be no such purchase.”
The adviser clarified that the approved procurement is strictly for election duty, ensuring that field-level officials have reliable transport.
Govt. to spend Tk445cr on 280 cars for election-duty officials, not ministers “The public administration ministry said vehicles are required for the national election.
If broken-down cars stall after just a couple of miles, we can’t allow it. That’s why the proposal was accepted,” Salehuddin explained.
The 300 vehicles, including utility cars and microbuses, will be allocated to UNOs, assistant commissioners (land), and some deputy commissioners, he added.
“We are keeping the process as cost-effective as possible,” he assured.
According to finance ministry sources, the initial proposal sought 60 Mitsubishi Pajero QX (2427cc) vehicles at Tk1.69 crore each, with a total cost of Tk101.61 crore.
The Finance Division endorsed the proposal on 24 August after receiving it on 19 August.
The matter, however, sparked widespread criticism when reported on 4 September. Following the backlash, the finance adviser confirmed that the plan for ministers’ cars has been scrapped.