All top govt offices guilty

The offices of president and prime minister, and several ministries, divisions and constitutional bodies have defaulted on over Tk 58.86-crore telephone bills, according to a list placed in parliament yesterday.
In response to a query of AL lawmaker Ghyasuddin Ahmed, Post and Telecommunications Minister Rajiuddin Ahmed came up with the list.
The minister also informed the House about measures to recover the outstanding bills till April this year as per the information provided by Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Ltd (BTCL).
However, it couldn't be learnt for how long the bills have been defaulted.
The list shows even the post and telecommunication ministry has an unpaid bill of Tk 18.40 lakh while the President's Office of Tk 9.30 lakh and the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) of Tk 66 lakh.
The establishment ministry tops the list with Tk 12.60-crore outstanding telephone bill.
The minister said BTCL officials communicated with the top officials of different ministries and departments in this regard. He said copies of bills have already been sent to these offices.
DEFAULTERS' LIST
* President's Office Tk 9.30 lakh
* Prime Minister's Office Tk 66 lakh
* Post and Telecommunication ministry Tk 18.40 lakh
* Establishment ministry Tk 12.60 crore
* Health ministry Tk 5.86 crore
* LGRD ministry Tk 5.34 crore
* Home ministry Tk 4.90 crore
* Defence ministry Tk 4.30 crore
* Law, justice and parliamentary affairs ministry Tk 3.40 crore
* Parliament secretariat Tk 3.44 crore
* Finance ministry Tk 2.09 crore
* Communications ministry Tk 1.74 crore
* Agriculture ministry Tk 1.30 crore
* Food and disaster management ministry Tk 1.26 crore
* Housing and public works ministry Tk 1.17 crore
* Education ministry Tk 1.43 crore
* Fisheries and livestock ministry Tk 1.40 crore
* Information ministry Tk 69 lakh
* Planning ministry Tk 68 lakh
* Foreign Tk 65.60 lakh
* Primary and mass education ministry Tk 64 lakh
* Forest and environment ministry Tk 50 lakh
* Land ministry Tk 47 lakh
* Social welfare ministry Tk 33.25 lakh
* Labour and employment ministry Tk 30.50 lakh
* Youth and sports ministry Tk.37 lakh
* Women and children affairs Tk 24.50 lakh
* Commerce ministry Tk 21.25 lakh
* Jute and textile ministry Tk 20 lakh
* Cultural affairs ministry Tk 20.50 lakh
* Power, energy and mineral resources ministry Tk 18.70 lakh
* Shipping ministry Tk 12 lakh
* Religious affairs ministry Tk 6 lakh
* CHT affairs ministry Tk 3.50 lakh
* Water resources Tk 6.20 lakh
* Science and ICT ministry Tk 6.40 lakh
* Civil aviation ministry Tk 8.80 lakh
* Liberation war affairs ministry Tk 3.10 lakh
* Expatriates welfare ministry Tk 4.64 lakh
* Public Service Commission (PSC) Tk 3.10 lakh
* Election Commission (EC) Secretariat Tk 1.12 crore
* Cabinet division Tk 7.30 lakh
* The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) Tk 1.30 lakh