Dhaka:The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Undertakings has recommended identifying individuals involved in financial irregularities during the previous government and taking necessary legal and administrative actions against them.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the recommendation was made during the eighth meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Undertakings, held at the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Bhaban, chaired by Committee Chairman and Chief Whip Md. Nurul Islam Moni. The meeting reviewed compliance audit reports on the accounts of the Chattogram Port Authority for the 2020-2021 fiscal year and the Mongla Port Authority.
The committee examined outstanding audit objections concerning the Chattogram and Mongla port authorities under the Ministry of Shipping. These objections included issues pending settlement through recovery, adjustment, write-off, remission, regularization, and ex-post facto approval. The committee emphasized that no individual involved in wasting public money or corruption should be granted impunity, warning that the current government would not tolerate any form of corruption or irregularities.
The meeting also highlighted the need to prevent over-invoicing and under-invoicing in import and export activities by using international platforms and AI-based technologies. It recommended the implementation of automated customs duty payments through e-billing and e-payment systems to enhance transparency and efficiency in port services.
Concerns were raised over the investment of port authorities' fixed deposit receipts in troubled private banks and the failure to withdraw funds upon maturity. The committee advised holding discussions with concerned banks and taking appropriate legal actions, also recommending future deposits of port authority funds in state-owned banks.
Regarding the Chattogram Port, the committee called for resolving issues with auctionable containers and vehicles by December 2026 and urged action against those involved in container theft. The meeting also addressed dredging activities at various ports and the proper utilization of allocated funds for these projects.
The committee discussed irregular payments of special incentive bonuses to ministry officials and employees from port authority funds, recommending legal and departmental actions against those responsible for financial irregularities. The meeting was attended by committee members and several government officials, including the Comptroller General of Accounts and representatives from the Ministry of Shipping and the National Board of Revenue.