Abul invites TIB to evaluate his ministry's activities

The communications minister yesterday invited the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) to look into any irregularities in the activities of his ministry. The invitation was sent to TIB's office in the capital in a letter signed by Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain. The latter gave assurance of “full cooperation” in the investigation. “All the activities of the communications ministry are transparent. We also send all the tender-related documents to you. I request you to evaluate the ministry's activities in the last two and a half years,” he wrote advocate Sultana Kamal, chairperson of the Bangladesh chapter of the anti-graft body. About the foreign funded projects, Abul said the ministry was following guidelines of the donors. He added that the Padma bridge project is being delayed for considering the suggestions and requests of the World Bank. He also requested the TIB chairperson to evaluate the justification of a few “false and motivated” media reports that portrayed his ministry in a “negative way”. “I expect your enquiry, evaluation into the matter and necessary instructions,” Abul's letter reads. Welcoming the offer, TIB expressed eagerness to take appropriate steps in this regard after formulating the terms of reference. In a press release acknowledging the receipt of the invitation, the anti-graft body, however, said it did not receive two files mentioned in the letter -- one on the minister's note to secretaries of the ministry and another on Padma Bridge project. TIB also termed Abul's stance on the media “inconsistence” with his claim of transparency in the activities of his ministry.