TIB slams Shahe Alam’s ‘contractors’ gifts’ remarks

Detailed summary

Transparency International Bangladesh yesterday condemned remarks by State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam that government engineers could accept gifts from contractors, warning that such comments could legitimise bribery in public procurement.

The minister has since apologised and withdrawn his remarks, the ministry said.

Local Government Division Senior Secretary Md Shahidul Hassan was present.

He challenged the minister to cite any law allowing such benefits, referring to Sections 161 and 165 of the Penal Code, which criminalise unauthorised gratification and certain benefits linked to official duties.

The Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1979 require prior approval for gifts creating obligations, with certain exceptions, and cap specified gifts to secretaries or equivalent officers at Tk 500 each, he said.

The Public Procurement Rules, 2025 allow branded diaries, calendars and pens worth up to Tk 5,000 each, but neither provision permits personal benefits from contractors’ profits for official duties, he said.

Such benefits could compromise engineers’ impartiality in supervising projects and certifying bills, undermine fair competition, encourage collusion and legitimise bribery at the field level, he warned.

Iftekharuzzaman questioned the senior secretary’s professional integrity and fitness to remain in office if he had given such advice. He also questioned whether the minister and secretary were attempting to institutionalise collusive corruption.

TIB demanded an unconditional public apology, withdrawal of the remarks, a formal explanation and accountability from the minister, alongside verification of the secretary’s alleged advice and legal action if warranted.

Meanwhile, the ministry described TIB’s characterisation of the remarks as legitimising bribery as “untrue and misleading”.

Opening of the article, excerpted from The Daily Star. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.