Where the social safety net funds have gone?
Saturday, 1 November 2008
THEY say that about Tk 2.0 billion (200 crore) from the government's social safety net fund has disappeared! Two ministries have asked the banks where the money was kept (this includes a major state owned bank) to release the funds but have so far been unsuccessful. The two ministries are Ministry of Social Welfare and Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. They say the ministries have laid grave charges against, at least, one bank. The ministries say a huge amount of their funds are being used by the bank for its own use. The bank in question has so far failed to furnish any report of the accounts. The ministries finding no other avenue have approached the Ministry of Finance to come to their help. After these complaints, the Finance Ministry even called a meeting where they advised the banks to return the aforementioned money of the two ministries as soon as possible. But once again, it was the same story: no money or their whereabouts was forthcoming from the banks.
It may be mentioned here that funds are distributed under the heads like old age pension, distressed women allowance, indigent retarded persons allowance, freedom fighters honorarium, etc., from Sonali Bank Ltd., and a few other banks where the funds are kept by the ministries. A large amount of money that have not been disbursed under those heads remain in the bank year after year. But now it seems the banks, where the accounts are, are now playing hide-and-hide with the ministries whose money it is. Let alone return it they do not even say how much of it is there or if it is there at all! Their attitude seems to be: "What money? Don't know what you're talking about!"
So what is the Anti-Corruption Commission doing about this? Do they know that such a situation has come about? Many think the Finance Ministry can do very little other than issue letter after letter to those errant banks. Maybe RAB and their 'crossfire' option will yield better results. After all, those funds are for the most underprivileged and distressed people of our society and denying them the money is as good as murdering them.
Sultan Ahmed Khan
Jhigatola, Dhaka
It may be mentioned here that funds are distributed under the heads like old age pension, distressed women allowance, indigent retarded persons allowance, freedom fighters honorarium, etc., from Sonali Bank Ltd., and a few other banks where the funds are kept by the ministries. A large amount of money that have not been disbursed under those heads remain in the bank year after year. But now it seems the banks, where the accounts are, are now playing hide-and-hide with the ministries whose money it is. Let alone return it they do not even say how much of it is there or if it is there at all! Their attitude seems to be: "What money? Don't know what you're talking about!"
So what is the Anti-Corruption Commission doing about this? Do they know that such a situation has come about? Many think the Finance Ministry can do very little other than issue letter after letter to those errant banks. Maybe RAB and their 'crossfire' option will yield better results. After all, those funds are for the most underprivileged and distressed people of our society and denying them the money is as good as murdering them.
Sultan Ahmed Khan
Jhigatola, Dhaka