TDS Desk:

During the ousted Awami League government regime, 22 projects were fabricated to embezzle Tk 19,000 crore from the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector. After taking office, the interim government halted these projects and directed Project Directors (PDs) to cease all purchases. Additionally, a high-level, seven-member investigation team, led by an additional secretary, has been established to probe the matter.

Findings reveal that most of the 22 projects were initiated in 2016, with some scheduled to run until 2027. In several cases, project budgets were repeatedly increased. Each project was approved by policymakers of the previous government, with funds released based on their direct decisions and assigned to selected firms for procurement. Upon discovering these irregularities in the ICT sector, interim government officials voiced strong disapproval and instructed the inquiry committee to conduct a thorough investigation. The committee has already commenced its work.

Officials stated that the investigation is focused on three key aspects of the projects: the amount of money embezzled, the government and political figures involved, and the details of the institutions awarded the contracts.

The investigation found that the largest project under the Directorate of Information and Communication Technology was the Digital Connectivity (EDC) initiative, valued at Tk 5,923.73 crore. This project, launched in December 2021, is scheduled to run until November 2026. Joint Secretary Tanzina Islam, appointed as the project director, stated that she could not provide detailed information but confirmed to    that work worth Tk 200 crore has been completed so far.

The next largest project is the “Enhancing Digital Government and Economy” (EDGE) project, valued at Tk 2,541 crore, with Joint Secretary Sakhawat Hossain serving as its Project Director. The third-largest project, a Tk 1,846 crore initiative, involves establishing IT/Hi-Tech Parks across 12 districts (first revised project). The fourth-largest, valued at Tk 1,534 crore, is the “Sheikh Hasina Institute of Frontier Technology.”

Among the 22 projects, the smallest is the Tk 27 crore “Education Online for Initiation-Skill Development.” While Mohammad Kabir Hossain is listed as the Project Director, his identity details were not provided. Most Project Directors declined to share specific information about their projects to the media.

The Tk 837 crore “Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Center” (covering 11 projects, 1st Revised) faced delays despite being initiated in 2020, Project Director Raja Muhammad Abdul Hai told   . He noted that while the project is currently on hold, its budget may be reduced.

Additional Secretary Manwara Ishrat, the Project Director of the Tk 287 crore “Empowerment of Women Through Technology” (Phase 2) project, reported that Tk 187 crore has already been spent, with Tk 78 crore allocated for the current year. When asked if these projects were initiated with embezzlement in mind, Information and Technology Department Secretary Sheesh Haider Chowdhury told    that due to numerous concerns surrounding these projects, all related procurements were halted by the current government at the outset.

Projects have been suspended at their current stages, with no new work being undertaken. He stated that the primary focus is on evaluating the transparency of the procurement process, specifically whether contracts were awarded with bias. Additionally, he noted that the investigation will examine whether project costs were inflated, such as if tasks valued at Tk 5 were billed at Tk 20.

He mentioned that a high-level, seven-member committee has been formed to address these issues, led by an additional secretary and including audit and legal experts. However, he emphasized that they are not waiting for the committee’s final report. For projects under scrutiny—such as one where only five out of seven floors have been completed—work is being halted. He also pointed out that some projects involved land acquisition in rural areas, but if developed, these areas would lack people to utilize them. One such site in Patuakhali has already been canceled.

He added that once the investigation committee’s report is received, the nature and extent of the corruption in these projects will be revealed, along with the total amount involved.

A beautiful building with modern facilities has been constructed near former minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak’s residence in Singra, Natore, and advanced computers were purchased with a foreign loan. However, there has been no activity at the site. I recently visited the location myself and have tasked the UNO with overseeing the matter. The secretary confirmed that not only will the embezzlement be investigated, but also those involved in these irregularities. Efforts are underway to gather details on which individuals in our department were involved, which political figures were connected, and which firms were awarded the contracts.

The controversial 22 projects include a range of large-scale initiatives, such as the Tk 330 crore Mobile Games and Application Skill Development Project, the Tk 855 crore Aspire to Innovate (A2I) Project, and the Tk 27 crore Initiation-Skill Development Education Online project. Other notable projects are the Tk 442 crore Establishment of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Academy (3rd Revised), the Tk 158 crore Enrichment of Bengali Language in Information Technology through Research and Development (1st Revised), and the Tk 30 crore Digital Sylhet City Project (2nd Revised). Additionally, the Tk 504 crore Establishment of Connectivity in Telecommunication Underprivileged Areas (Connected Bangladesh) Project, the Tk 167 crore BGD-E-Govt Project, and the Tk 2,541 crore Enhancing Digital Government and Economy (EDGE) Project are also under scrutiny. Smaller initiatives, such as the Tk 49 crore Government Video Conferencing Platform Strengthening Project and the Tk 8 crore Partnerships for a More Tolerant, Inclusive Bangladesh (PTIB), have also raised concerns. These projects have become the focus of controversy due to allegations of financial mismanagement and lack of transparency.

In addition, there are several high-value projects under the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority, including the Tk 837 crore Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Center (11 projects, 1st Revised), the Tk 1,886 crore IT/Hi-Tech Parks at the district level (12 districts, 1st Revised), and the Tk 533 crore Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Center Establishment (2nd Revised) Project. Other significant initiatives include the Tk 431 crore Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City-II Supporting Infrastructure Project (2nd Revised), the Tk 353 crore Digital Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystem Development Project, and the Tk 74 crore Bangladesh-India Digital Services and Employment Training (BDSET) Center. The Tk 1,534 crore Sheikh Hasina Institute of Frontier Technology and the Tk 1,114 crore Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Center (14 projects) also fall under scrutiny.

Additionally, the Directorate of Information and Communication Technology oversees three major projects: the Tk 936 crore Digital Labs Setup in Educational Institutions (2nd Phase), the Tk 5,923 crore Establishment of Digital Connectivity (EDC) Project, and the Tk 287 crore Empowerment of Women through Technology (2nd Phase) Project.