BTCL safe haven of institutional corruption: TAC
Thursday, 23 October 2008
The Truth and Accountability Commission (TAC) identified the Bangladesh Telecommunication Company Ltd (BTCL) as a safe haven of institutional corruption, reports UNB.
Citing one instance it said the state-owned company's forerunner had hired 256 workmen for shifting files from one almirah (cupboard) to another.
The Commission unveiled the alleged corruption at a regular press briefing at its office Wednesday afternoon.
Member of the Commission Manjur Rashid Khan said they got the information after analysing an inquiry report made by Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board, the previous name of BTCL.
The rot was divulged through the confessional statements of its four employees who came to the Commission for seeking clemency in return for their ill-gotten wealth.
"One of the four employees was suspended earlier by BTCL on charge of corruption," retired major general Khan said.
The inquiry report had been submitted to the ministry concerned. "But it was incomplete and insufficient," he said.
Mr Khan mentioned that BTCL had two departments (engineering and revenue). According to the report, its revenue department looted over Tk 116.6 million through forgery in the 2001-2007 period while the engineering department plundered over Tk 140 million in just one year (2006).
He said even the government institution, now made public limited company, increased its budget through forgery as it raised the budget to Tk 40 million from Tk 16.6 million.
The TAC member alleged that the company predecessor, most of the time, had looted money through changing vouchers. "They changed voucher of Tk 74,400 into Tk 20,74,400 after placing 20 in front of the figure of original voucher. They made another false voucher of Tk 21,13,200 from original voucher of Tk 123,200," he said citing the probe findings.
Citing one instance it said the state-owned company's forerunner had hired 256 workmen for shifting files from one almirah (cupboard) to another.
The Commission unveiled the alleged corruption at a regular press briefing at its office Wednesday afternoon.
Member of the Commission Manjur Rashid Khan said they got the information after analysing an inquiry report made by Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board, the previous name of BTCL.
The rot was divulged through the confessional statements of its four employees who came to the Commission for seeking clemency in return for their ill-gotten wealth.
"One of the four employees was suspended earlier by BTCL on charge of corruption," retired major general Khan said.
The inquiry report had been submitted to the ministry concerned. "But it was incomplete and insufficient," he said.
Mr Khan mentioned that BTCL had two departments (engineering and revenue). According to the report, its revenue department looted over Tk 116.6 million through forgery in the 2001-2007 period while the engineering department plundered over Tk 140 million in just one year (2006).
He said even the government institution, now made public limited company, increased its budget through forgery as it raised the budget to Tk 40 million from Tk 16.6 million.
The TAC member alleged that the company predecessor, most of the time, had looted money through changing vouchers. "They changed voucher of Tk 74,400 into Tk 20,74,400 after placing 20 in front of the figure of original voucher. They made another false voucher of Tk 21,13,200 from original voucher of Tk 123,200," he said citing the probe findings.