Probe finds no corruption in parliament camera procurement, reporter admits ‘typo’

A high-level probe committee has found no evidence of financial corruption or “plunder” in the procurement of cameras and electronic equipment by the Parliament Secretariat.

The committee clarified that the allegations of inflated prices published in a national daily were based on significant data inconsistencies, which the concerned reporter later attributed to a “typing mistake”.

The five-member investigation committee, led by its Convener and the House Whip ABM Ashraf Uddin Nizan, submitted its findings to Speaker Hafizuddin Ahmed today (30 April).

The committee included lawmakers Hasnat Abdullah, Humman Quader Chowdhury, Lutfullahel Mazed, and Md Saiful Alam.

The probe was initiated following a report titled “Plunder in Parliamentary Procurement,” published in the Bangla daily Bangladesh Pratidin on 19 April, which alleged that equipment was bought at prices several times higher than market rates.

According to the committee’s investigation report, the most glaring discrepancy in the media report involved the price of lenses.

A decimal error

The news article claimed that a 24-70mm lens cost Tk37.41 lakh. However, the committee’s review of official documents revealed that the total cost for three such lenses was actually Tk3.74 lakh, with each unit priced at Tk1.24 lakh.

During an interview with the committee, the concerned Bangladesh Pratidin reporter admitted the error was a “typing mistake” and promised an official correction.

Consequently, the daily expressed regret for the “unintentional error” in its print version today.

The committee noted that the procurement of 12 items by the Parliament Secretariat followed the Public Procurement Rules. While the probe body identified some procedural deviations, it concluded that no financial irregularities or corruption occurred.

The committee further remarked that the term “plunder” (Horiloot) used in the news headline was “objective and exaggerated”.

The controversy erupted following the first procurement by the Parliament Secretariat since the formation of the BNP-led government.

The 13th National Parliament began its journey on 12 March, with the purchase order issued on 25 March and the equipment delivered on 15 April.

Although the initial media reports alleged that a package worth less than Tk20 lakh was bought for Tk58.44 lakh and suggested irregularities in the tender process, the speaker’s committee has now cleared the transaction of any criminal intent or financial loss to the state.

All pending bills related to the purchase were halted on 20 April pending the investigation.