AS governments around the world are saving money as far as possible to cope with the economic turmoil brought about by Covid-19, the authorities in Bangladesh have wasted taxpayers’ money on big projects. Two unused eye-catching buildings constructed at Agargaon in the capital are standing as glaring examples.
These two buildings have remained unused for about two years. One of these building is the “Daak Bhaban” of Bangladesh Post Office and the other is the National Science and Technology Complex of the Science and Technology Ministry. The concerned ministry and the department were very keen for allocation of funds for the construction of the buildings, but now they are not so interested to move to their new office buildings. By now, the colours of the buildings have faded due to lack of maintenance and layers of dust can be seen on their walls.
As reported in a national daily, the construction of the National Science and Technology Complex building was started in 2014 and finished by 2019. A total of Tk 222 crore was spent for the construction of this building to provide a platform for scientists as well as to house the Science Ministry transferring the same from the secretariat. But the officials and employees of the ministry are not interested to go there, fearing that their facilities given at the central secretariat might be discontinued. However, the secretary of the ministry said that they want the building to be officially inaugurated by the Prime Minister. But due to the coronavirus situation, the schedule of the premier is not available.
Similarly, the head office of Bangladesh Post Office, situated on a five-acre land near the Zero Point, could not be shifted reportedly for the same reason. The director general of Bangladesh Post Office said it is important to keep the GPO here. Employees of the post office have protested against the decision to move out and staged a demonstration.
It is shocking to see how public money is carelessly provided for useless projects only to keep happy the corrupt ones in the government.