Special Correspondent:

As the government has adopted austerity policy to reduce unnecessary expenditure, right then the matter of foreign tour by the officials of Pashchimanchal Gas Company Limited (PGCL) in Sirajganj after completion of the project deadline has intensified questions among the conscious people.

According to the sources, various equipment have already been purchased from China for the gas-connection line of BSCIC Industrial Park in Sirajganj, which project implementation deadline was ended on June 30. The concerned contractor started the construction work on December last with that equipment.

Though, the project deadline is over, the officials of Pashchimanchal Gas Company Limited (PGCL) have taken preparation to go to China in the name of ‘floor inspection’ for buying equipment.

It is to be mentioned that, the visit before purchasing equipment for a project is usually called ‘Floor Inspection’. However, after bringing the equipment and using those in project work, questions have arisen about such trip abroad with government expenses.

Photo Collected

This foreign tour was approved by Government Order (GO) on May 15. It was signed by Khadija Tahera Babi, Deputy Secretary (Budget Wing), Department of Energy and Mineral Resources.

According to the GO, they can spend a total of 12 days on this visit including the travel period from 30th May to 10th June or thereabouts. However, the authorized officials have not yet been gone on the tour till yesterday.

According to PGCL sources, preparations are underway for the tour in the first week of July.

‘BSCIC Industrial Park-Sirajganj’ has established in Syedabad area, an outskirt of Sirajganj town at a cost of about Tk 719.21 crore.

Of them, Tk 21 crore is being spent on construction of pipeline for gas connection.

Meanwhile, the project deadline has been ended on June 30 with the declaration of work completion in paper and pen.

Don Construction Limited has received the work order for setting up the pipe lines. Its construction work has been started since December last. Meanwhile, several equipment including line pipes, fittings, coating materials and ancillary for the work have been imported from China, reliable sources said.

During a spot visit, this correspondent found that, the workers were working to install gas transmission line under the four-lane road and railway line in Syedabad area of Sirajganj sadar upazila. After completion of installation, gas will dispatch to BSCIC Industrial Park through the line.

It is learnt that, one of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and nine other officials of PGCL have been permitted for the ‘floor inspection’ to purchase equipment for that project work.

They are Kabir Uddin, System Analyst of Energy and Mineral Resources Department of the Ministry of Electricity, Energy and Mineral Resources, Saidul Islam, General Manager of PGCL, Shailja Nanda Basak and Shahinur Alam; it’s Deputy General Manager Rafiqul Islam and HM Zulfikar; Manager Aktaruzzaman Khan and Oli Uddin, Assistant Manager Saikat Mahmud and Assistant Engineer Kisholoy Mitra.

According to the travel conditions in the government order, these officials will be considered on duty during the travel. Allowances due should be taken in their local currency. No part of it can be withdrawn in foreign currency. They cannot stay abroad beyond the permitted period. All expenses of this trip are to be borne by the Organizing Company-PGCL. They have to submit their report on the inspection within seven days of their return from the tour.

The Ministry of Finance issued a circular on May 12, 2022 regarding the ban on foreign travel of government officials except for special needs to reduce pressure on foreign exchange reserves. It said that, all types of foreign travel, including exposure visits, study tours, APA, innovation scope travel, participation in workshops or seminars, will be suspended until re-ordered in the context of the post-Corona economic recovery and the current global crisis. This order will be applicable to both development budget and management budget.

PGCL General Manager (Planning and Development) Muhibur Rahman wrote in a Facebook post last Sunday that, he inspected the construction of underground pipelines, coating materials and other fittings for Sirajganj Industrial Park. That means, the construction work is going on using that goods imported from China.

In this situation, when asked about the reason for going to China, Muhibur Rahman told The Daily Sky that, “The goods have been brought, it is correct. But some more stuff will bring.”

When asked about the necessity of the inspection at this time, Managing Director of PGCL Rukhsana Najma Ishaq could not make any reply.

Niamat Hossain, who is in charge (site engineer) of gas connection line construction work on behalf of the contractor said that, “The work will be completed within one month if the work is going on like this. But in case of rain or any natural calamity it may take more time.”