Project on NID System: WB blacklists Tiger IT for ‘corruption’

The World Bank has imposed sanctions on Tiger IT Bangladesh Ltd for corrupt and collusive practices in a project designed to establish a secure, accurate and reliable national ID system, a WB statement has said.

The global lender imposed sanctions of debarment on the firm for nine and a half years and its chairman and chief executive officer Ziaur Rahman for six and a half years.

The Election Commission implemented the $195 million WB project between 2011 and 2018.

As part of the project, Tiger IT maintains database of the national identity cards of over 10.42 crore Bangladeshis, said Election Commission’s NID wing officials.     

“The Respondents were found liable for engaging in a collusive scheme to stifle open competition for a Bank-financed contract in the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. The Respondents were also found liable for soliciting bribe payments for a Bangladeshi public official in connection with that same contract.   

“In addition, the Respondent Firm was found liable for deliberately acting to materially impede the Bank’s investigation of the misconduct at issue in this case. In selecting the appropriate sanction for the Respondents, the Sanctions Board took into account all relevant aggravating and mitigating factors,” WB said in a statement dated April 24.

The project, Identification System for Enhancing Access to Services, sought to assist Bangladesh in establishing a secure, accurate, and reliable national identification system that serves as the basis for a more efficient and transparent service delivery, it said. 

The Daily Star called Tiger IT Director Tapanena Narayan for more than 10 times but he did not pick up the calls. He also did not respond to the two text messages seeking comments.