Ministry fails to report even after 3 months
The communications ministry is yet to prepare reports on how much it spent on roads in the last 10 years even though the prime minister asked for the reports three-and-half months ago.
She asked for separate reports on expenditure on construction, development, maintenance and repairs of roads and highways since 2001 during a meeting on August 16 with Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain and senior officials of the ministry.
Hasina wanted to see what was actually done in the road sector during the tenure of archrival BNP-Jamaat alliance government and the following caretaker government, and during the current government.
The Roads and Highways Department of the ministry was assigned to prepare the reports.
She also asked the ministry to mention in the reports how and why major roads and highways of the country became so dilapidated before the last Eid-ul-Fitr.
A senior official of the communications ministry said the reports will give her an overall picture of the road sector since 2001. “But the long delay in preparing the reports prove how inefficient the Roads and Highways Department and its officials are,” the official told The Daily Star.
Asked about the status of the reports, Chief Engineer (current charge) Abdul Quddus said, “We have nearly finalised the reports.” Once the reports are ready, the communications ministry will give a power-point presentation to the prime minister.
In an order on August 17, the High Court also directed the government to submit to it by October 17 a comprehensive report on the measures taken in the last five years to repair roads and highways, prevent road accidents and ensure road safety across the country.
The report must contain how much money was allocated for roads and highways, how the money was spent and what measures had been taken for development of roads and highways during that period, the High Court said in a rule issued on that day.
The communications ministry is yet to comply with the order.
Comments