Bedsheets for police: IGP, others going to Germany to assess dye
The inspector general of police and two other officials are set to visit Germany to "participate in the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT)" relating to shipment of one lakh pieces of bedsheets with pillow covers (double), according to an official order.
The home ministry order issued on Monday sanctioned the delegation's nine-day visit to the European country anytime between February 2 and 28.
The two other officials are -- Md Firoz Uddin Khalifa, deputy secretary at the home ministry's Public Security Division, and Mohammad Masud Alam, the IGP's staff officer.
The FAT will be held sometime between February 2 and 28 or from the nearest possible date, reads the ministry order.
It further said the organisers will bear all travel costs of the officials and no government fund will be spent.
Md Kamruzzaman, assistant inspector general (media) at the Police Headquarters, yesterday said a local manufacturer will produce the items locally and supply those to the police for use of its force members.
As per the tender specification, the company has to use quality dye from a European country and a team will travel there to assess the quality of that dye, he added.
"Since it involves a huge amount of money, IGP Benazir Ahmed sir himself will visit Germany to assess the quality," said Kamruzzaman.
Officials at the PHQ said Noman Group won the tender, floated on October 7 last year, for procurement of the bedsheets and pillow covers worth Tk 17.5 crore.
Despite several attempts, this correspondent could not reach Salahuddin Chowdhury, chief executive officer of Noman Group, over the phone for comment as he did not respond to calls and a text message.
Contacted, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said, "Public procurement-related foreign trips are often justified by showing different reasons. But the visit of a high official delegation led by the police chief for joining the Factory Acceptance Test for purchase of bedsheets and pillow covers is ridiculous. In fact, this is embarrassing for the delegation.
"Suppose, top officials need to personally verify the quality of the product. But why a weeklong official visit is needed for such a work? It can be verified in other ways like using courier service," he added.
The TIB executive director said the matter of conflict of interest is equally important here. "It is said that the supplier will bear the travel costs which is against the rule of government purchase."
Senior Secretary of the Public Security Division Akhtar Hossain said he was yet to understand the matter as he joined the office recently.
He said he would talk to the IGP about the issue.