Corruption spreading its tentacles everywhere

At a time when corruption has spread across almost all government institutions, it only makes sense that the Bangladesh Association for the Aged and Institute of Geriatric Medicine (BAAIGM) – formed to provide medical and social care to the elderly population – is not immune to it. However, the level of corruption witnessed at this institution is quite unthinkable. According to a Prothom Alo report, an investigation carried out recently has found instances of many financial and administrative irregularities that have pushed the institution almost on the verge of collapse.

From misappropriating money from funds for annual picnic or purchasing medical equipment to irregularities taking place in staff recruitment, corruption seems to have spread in every sphere of its operation. According to the investigation report, a committee in charge of arranging a picnic in January this year not only registered inflated bills for the arrangement, it also didn't follow due procedure in purchasing goods. For example, 664 grams of mutton were shown to be served in one meal for each of the participants who are above 60 years. Or think of the bills for 1,500 "Kashmiri shawls" apparently given to 904 people, which came at a cost of Tk 19,50,000. Recipients of the shawls have also alleged that those were actually locally made shawls, not Kashmiri ones. This is completely ludicrous.

Equally alarmingly, the authorities have used up nearly Tk 9 crore from its FDR to pay for salaries, allowances and other expenses, even though the money is supposed to be spent for the welfare of the elderly. Corruption was also found in the process of medical equipment purchase. Due to such irregularities, the residents of the BAAIGM old home and those needing medical care in its hospital are not getting the desired services.

All this demonstrates sheer neglect of a vulnerable community in need of care but, equally importantly, the sorry state of a vital public institution. We urge the government to hold BAAIGM officials accountable for corruption so that it can better serve the beneficiaries.