98-inch TV flown from China for NEC

A 98-inch television, costing around Tk 700,000, has been flown in from China for the Planning Commission, apparently for installation at the NEC conference room so that the Prime Minister can see it during ECNEC meetings.

An older television had already been installed in the NEC conference room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka. It was earlier brought from the Planning Division’s Nazia-Salma conference room and was in use. However, one corner of the screen was damaged, which reportedly triggered the decision to purchase a replacement.

On Thursday, the new television was seen installed on the left wall of the NEC conference room entrance. It is placed in a position that is unlikely to even be noticed by the Prime Minister during ECNEC meetings. Yet, ahead of hir scheduled participation in an ECNEC meeting at the Planning Commission on April 6, authorities quickly moved to replace the damaged unit, ensuring the broken corner would not be visible. The meeting, however, did not take place at ECNEC and was instead held at the Secretariat.

The old television is still functioning and has been moved back to the Nazia-Salma conference room.

At a time when the government is calling for austerity amid global economic pressures, the Planning Ministry’s spending choice appears contradictory. This raises questions over why such a purchase was necessary.

However, the Planning Commission’s Needs Assessment Committee did not consider it unnecessary. The replacement of the damaged television was approved based on its recommendation.

Sources said a Needs Assessment Committee and a Purchase Committee were formed for the procurement. Even a separate committee was reportedly set up to receive the television after delivery.

Planning Ministry’s Administration Division Chief (Additional Secretary) Golam Mostafiz told Agamir Somoy that the 98-inch television was purchased through an e-GP tender from state-run Telephone Shilpa Sangstha (TSS), following all required procedures.

“We followed all regulations and procured it through an e-GP tender from TSS. The price is around Tk 700,000. The purchase was made after reducing the price in two phases and conducting market verification,” he said.

Asked why such an extravagant purchase was necessary during a time of economic pressure, he said a committee was formed to assess the need for the television and the members recommended the purchase after evaluation.

When asked about the members of the assessment committee, he named Planning Division Senior System Analyst and SDP project Deputy Project Director Md Tamiz Uddin Ahmed and Maintenance section’s maintenance engineer Md Moinul Hasan.

However, both officials named as committee members gave a different account, saying they had no knowledge of such a role.

Tamiz Uddin Ahmed told Agamir Somoy, “I am not a member of any committee. I don’t even know anything about the TV purchase. Moinul Hasan may know.”

Moinul Hasan also said he was unaware of the matter, adding that only Golam Mostafiz could provide details about the purchase cost.

Meanwhile, Administrative Division General Branch Deputy Secretary Mohammad Ruhul Quddus, who was reportedly responsible for the procurement process, said the Tk 700,000 price was actually lower than previous purchases.

“Earlier, such TVs were bought for Tk 1.4 million. We purchased this one for nearly Tk 700,000. No commission was taken, and there was not even a single taka of corruption,” he said.

At a time when the government is calling for cost-cutting measures, including even reducing food items for guests at the Prime Minister’s Office, the Planning Commission has procured a Tk 700,000 television for installation in a location that may not even be noticed by the Prime Minister.

Former Planning Division Secretary Mamun-Al-Rashid told Agamir Somoy that such extravagant spending was not justified under the current global economic situation.

“It would not be surprising if there is commission trading or other benefits behind officials’ interest in purchasing televisions. This should be investigated promptly so that such unnecessary spending can be stopped in the future,” he said.

He added that such luxury spending during a crisis cannot be taken lightly.