Diplomats are a different breed. They are, supposedly, apt at doing things discreetly. But auditors can go deeper.

An audit into their ways of spending taxpayers' money has detected huge sums gone down the drain. Illegally or wrongfully spent, the figures together run into crores of takas.

More important, they have been found to have gone way beyond one can expect of a discrete community such as the diplomats are perceived to be.

The findings are startling in some cases and involve persons of higlr repute. Those at fault include ambassadors, high commissioners, ministers, counsellors and other officers.

For instance, their dependants did not go to a particular school the state paid the high fees for. A high commissioner is not entitled to his adopted daughter's education expenses, but as much as Tk seven lakh went from the exchequer.

An ambassador is not authorised to spend more than a certain amount but he spent much more than that.

Personal international calls are not paid for by the state; but there were cases detected.

All Bangladesh embassy staff — local recruits aside — are entitled to medical expenses, whatever is the cost. But there are rules to regulate the spending, In several instances, the

diplomats or their staff are found to have bent the system.

The Daily Stat has .obtained the report prepared by the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General, which details at least 103 incidents of "serious financial irregularities" involving officers in 20 diplomatic missions. In all, there are 58 missions of different categories.

The report for 1995-96, released in July this year, 'deals only with the audited accounts of the financial years taken into account by the auditors'.

"Therefore, the auditors' report and facts unveiled are only representative in character and do not constitute a complete picture of the transactions and the state of affairs," the report says.

The 20 missions are: London. Washington. Riyadh. Kuwait. Kathmundu. Nairobi, Hong Kong, Pretoria, Baghdad, Ottawa, Singapore, Bangkok, Brasilia. Manila. Bonn, Kuala Lumpur. Manchester, Rabat. Bucharest and Moscow.

Asked, the foreign secretary said the "misused” and "irregularly spent" money is recoverable.

“Whenever any irregularity is alleged, the individual concerned is asked to explain the matter. If the explanation is not satisfactory, he is asked to pay back the money involved." Secretary Mustaflzur Rahman told

The Daily Star.

"If this process fails, the money is recovered from pension as a regular practice'tri flits regard.” he added.

The special audit report, submitted to President Sha-habuddin Ahmed and placed before Parliament last month, also refers to unresolved audit objections since 1971-72.

The report says the authorities have failed to take "proper action” on as many as 4465 objections with different missions from 1971-72 to 1995-96. The amount of money involved is Tk'73.08 crore.

The CAG's office says the findings were conveyed to the concerned missions and the foreign secretary. But there has not been any response after repeated attempts by the office to draw attention of the missions and the top administrator to the irregularities.

Who did what

In London, one of Bangladesh’s largest missions abroad, there have been irregularities galore.

An audit of the mission's accounts between 1987 and 1991 shows that former minister Go-lam Kader spent 2083 pound sterling and accountant Mazharul Islam 3901 pounds illegally for education of their wards.

High Commissioner Dr AFM

Yousuf (BNP leader) spent as much as Tk 23 lakh from the mission fund for his daughter's and’his owlti treatment violating rules between July 1995 to June 1996.

The high commissioner overdrew around Tk 9.8Q lakh as his foreign allowance, audit of the mission's account from 1993 to 96 revealed.

He also received extra 2052 pounds as foreign allowance and for buying various materials during July 1991-June 1993 violating rules, the report said.

During July 1993-June 1995, Dr Yousuf "irregularly" spent Tk 7.76 lakh from the mission fund to buy "machinery and furniture" without approval from the Foreign Ministry.

Dr AFM Yousuf illegally drew an extra amount of Tk 13.000 as hotel charges during trips to different places between July 1993 and June 1995. He also paid another Tk 13.000 during the period for purchasing bulbs for his residence and for paying hotel bills though he had a house. In all these cases, government rules were violated, the report said.

He used extra telephones at his office and residence causing a loss of around Tk 6.5 lakh, according to audits of the mission's accounts from July 1993 to June 1996. The high commissioner illegally paid Tk 18,000 from the mission fund for a return ticket for his maid and for extra daily allowance for himself during July 1993 to June 1995.

He took Tk 72,000 from the mission fund for his treatment at a private hospital, diet charges, dietician’s fees and for collecting blood during July 1993 to June 1996. He was not entitled to the expenses.

In addition to his entitlement. he drew Tk 50,000 as entertainment allowance between July 1993 and June 1995 violating rules, the report said.

During July 1993 to June 1995, HC at London Dr AFM Yousuf purchased four mobile telephones without permission from the ministry and paid Tkl.65 lakh as bills for the phones. This expenditure is totally "irregular" as the officials had no jurisdiction to buy mobile telephones and in this case, he was not permitted by the concerned ministry, the report said.

Dr Yousuf paid all utility charges from the mission fund causing a loss of around Tk 9,000. according to an audit for July 1995-June 1996.

A similar charge has been brought against his predecessors. High Commissioners Mir Shawkat All and Rezaul Karim (both BNP leaders now) -- owe US$ 30.47 and USS 126 respectively to the government as they paid all utility costs of their residences from the mission fund violating rules, an audit for July 1987-June 1991 revealed.

Counsellor Khairuzzaman caused a loss of Tk 1,24 lakh for the government as he took more money for transporting goods than he was entitled to. the audit for July 1991-June 1993 revealed.

The auditors found that high commissioner Yousuf and other officials irregularly subscribed newspapers spending Tk 3.15 lakh during July 1993 to June 1995. First Secretary Mohammad Moniruzzaman and Counsellor Ashrafuddoula at Singapore mission spent US$ 259 Tor buying newspapers for their residence in violation of rules during July 1989 to July 1992. the auditors said.

In (Manchester, assistant high commissioner Ahmed Rahim drew an extra amount of Tk 23,000 as transit DA violating rules-, during July 1993-June

An audit for the period also shows tha.t an amount of Tk 2.23 lakh drawn by Rahim as TA at the time of his home leave was not adljusted with the mission's account.

Dali m at Nairobi

Convicted killer of Banga-bandhu and former high commissioner to Kenya Lt Col

(dismissed) Shariful Haq (Dalim) illegally paid around Tk seven lakh for education and treatment of his adopted daughter.

The auditors said he violated rules as adopted children are not entitled to such benefits. They studied the mission's accounts from July 1993 to June 1995.

The mission officials made personal international telephone calls from the telephones of High Commissioner's residence and the Chancery causing a loss of Tk 1.19 lakh during July 1993-June 1995.

No telephone registrar was maintained at the mission and personal calls were shown as official ones, the audit report said.

A total of He 4.77 lakh was found to be virtually embezzled at the mission during July 1993-Junel995. The money was spent to buy furniture not listed with the stock register.

Stepping beyond his authority. the high commissioner irregularly spent around Tk 93,000 to purchase "various materials" during July 1987-June 1991.

High Commissioner Dalim paid Tk 2.05 lakh from the mission fund as entertainment allowance though he received the allowance regularly at the fixed rate offered by the government. an audit of the mission's account from July 1993 to June 1995 shows.

He spent Tk 2.32 lakh illegally from the mission fund for Nairobi-London airfare and treatment during July 19987 to June 1991.

The dismissed military officer-turned-diplomat spent another Tk 21,000 for fuel for his private car. claiming it was meant for his official car. He also spent some Tk 13.000 for treatment of his pet dog from the mission fund between July 1993 and June 1995 violating rules, the audit report said.

An audit into the mission’s account from July 1993 and June 1995 shows that a total of Tk 1.43 lakh was spent as hotel bills and travel allowance from the mission fund. The payments were made at a higher rate than was approved by the Finance Ministry, the report said.

Dalim did not refund around Tk 29.000 which remained unspent from daily allowance and travel allowance he received in advance during July 1993-June 1995.

First Class Fraud

On different occasions during July 1993-June 1995. an amount of Tk 1.04 lakh was spent violating rules when the high commissioner in Kenya travelled by first class air instead of economy class he was entitled to.

Pasha's payments

In Bucharest, Counsellor Abdul Aziz Pasha illegally drew around Tk two lakh for his daughter's education at American School of Bucharest. An audit found she was never a student there, according to a scrutiny into the mission’s accounts from July 1992 to March 1995.

Ambassador at fault

In Kathmandu, Ambassador Syed Mohammad Hossain received around USS 6.000 as his son's education allowance at a higher rate than he was entitled to. says an audit of the mission’s account from January 1994 to November 1995.

On one occasion, the ambassador drew USS 2075 for transit DA, terminal charge and travel allowance for his son. The ambassador's son did not travel at all. the audit report said.

He also drew US$ 519 as airfare for his son's Tamil Nadu-Kathmandu trip though he did not travel at all.

The ambassador drew festival bonus while on home leave violating rules and causing a loss of around Tk 19.000.

He spent US$ 141 for cooking gas. paid full charges of US$ 109 dollars for water, air conditioner and electricity from the mission fund violating rules. As per rules, the ambassador was to pay 25 per cent of the utility costs.

He also spent US$ 39 for electric bulbs and paid US$ 2325 dollars for fuel of 13 officials and employees violating rules, the audit report for January 1994-November 1995 said.

Rent for nothing

The embassy at Kathmandu spent a total of Tk 2.27 lakh for an empty house during January 1994 and November 1995. “The amount was paid as rent of the house for 11 months which had been vacated by Counsellor Az-izul Haq. As per contract, the house could be abandoned with a 30-day notice, but it was not done." the report said. A total of Tk 13,000 was spent when the monthly rent was paid twice for the month of March 1994 of the same house, the report said,

Washington

Between July 1992 and June 1995. Minister at Washington mission Dr Toufiq Ali (later ambassador to the Netherlands and now additional secretary at foreign ministry) took US$ 2000 for his son's education, auditors said.

The Washington audit also revealed that Minister Iftekharul Karim spent around Tk 80.000 for his son's education.

Both violated rules which say the allowances were only applicable for under-21 wards.

The government suffered loss of Tk 40,000 as first secre-

tary Imtiaz Ahmed did not pay 20 per cent of the bills of his wife's maternity treatment cost as per rules between July 1992 to June 1995.

The ambassador’s driver was also paid an extra daily allowance of USS 822 creating a total loss of Tk 1.42 lakh for the government.

Accountant Entaz Ali drew Tk 1.22 lakh as travel allowance for his married daughter violating rules, according to auditors who checked the mission accounts for July 1992-June 1995 period.

"The amount is recoverable as she was married and was not a dependent," the report said.

The ambassador too

Ambassador Abul Ahsan was illegally given Tk 1.17 lakh as joining and transfer allowance though he was sent on LPR on December 26. 1993.

The brigadier's batman

In Washington. Brigadier AM Mansur Ahmed drew Tk 42,000 as defence service and batman allowance which he was not entitled to when on diplomatic assignment, the mission's audit from July 1992 to June 1995 says.

Another defence attache at the same mission Brigadier Faruk Ahmed Chowdhury drew Tk 11,000 as defence service allowance.

Habibullah Khan in, SA

High Commissioner to South Africa Habibullah Khan paid US$ 4.000 from the mission fund as school fees for his daughter.

The payment was made only two days before she became 21, the allowable age limit for education entitlement. The audit found it was the second payment in the same academic year and that the money was in addition to the requirement.

(Kuala Lumpur mission accountant Mohammad Zakaria paid Tk 25.000, Minister at Riyadh AKM Mohiuddin Tk 9,000 for similar purposes — children's education.)

High Commissioner Khan "irregularly" paid around Tk 5.000 from the mission fund for utilities during February 1995-June 1996. the report said.

Khan spent around Tk 27,000 between February 1995 and June 1996 to buy washing machine, which he was not entitled to. the report says.

He received Tk 2.67 lakh to pay .for hotel expenses, violating government rules that do not allow hotel bills for more than 15 days.

The high commissioner received Tk 69.000 as joining allowance after he was relieved of his job on July 26. 1996.

Mir Nasiruddin

Ambassador Mir Mohammad Nasiruddin (former Chittagong Mayor and a BNP leader)

owes Tk 2.53 lakh to the mission and Minister Ahmed Shar-ful Hossain Tk 2.77 lakh. Both paid for their personal international telephone calls from the mission fund. This was between July 1995 and June 1996.

Mir Nasir Uddin drew Tk 45,000 as his wife's travel allowance though the trip was not "formal" and "representational". Minister Hossain received Tk 63.000 as daily allowance violating rules.

Costly Kuwait

Counsellor Mohsin Ali Khan Eaid Tk one lakh as telephone ills in violation of rules during July 1987-June 1992. He was entitled to get Tk 5,000 as residential telephone charge but over Tk 1.05 lakh was paid from the mission fund for his residential telephone bills, the report said.

The Counsellor and FJrst Secretary Meer Abul Hossain drew Tkl.07 lakh as entertainment allowance which was more than they were entitled to between August 1987 and May' 1993.

The then economic counsellor (name not mentioned) in Kuwait received an extra amount of around Tk 10,000 as transit DA. hotel bills, allowances. terminal charges and taxi fare, according to audit for August 1987-June 1992 accounts.

Counsellors Mohsin Ali Khan and AHM Moniruzzaman also received an excess amount of Tk 56,000 as duty allowance violating rules, an audit into the mission's account from August of 1987 to June 1992 revealed.

FM in Singapore

Some Tk 16,000 was illegally paid from the mission fund for hotel bills of former foreign minister Anisul Islam Mahmud during .his stay in Singapore from July 1989 to June 1992, the report said.

First secretary Mir Maniruzzaman and counsellor Ashraf-ud-doula in Singapore drew US$ 2700 for carrying personal belongings, says an audit of for July 1989-June 1992.

Baghdad

Ambassador AKM Mahiud-din Ahmed overdrew Tk 92.000 as foreign allowance, entertainment allowance and duty allowance, an audit into the accounts during July 1993-July 1996 of mission shows.

He drew daily allowance at a rate of US$ 98 instead of US$ 90 causing a loss of Tk 20.000.

He spent Tk 1.45 lakh for repairing car without any tender lor quotation as per rules.

I Ottawa'

HC Mohammad Mohsin drew an amount of Tk 88,555 as TA and DA violating rules. The HC drew the allowances though he was on LPR," the report said.

The former high commissioner did not refund Tk 33.000 in unspent travel allowance which he had drawn as advance, the report said. He also irregularly drew an extra amount of Tk 16,000 as transit DA and hotel charges, an audit of the mission’s account from July 1992 to June 1995 says.

Manila

The government suffered a loss of Tk 17.000 as the former CDA M Khairuzzaman (now accused in Jail Killing Case) travelled with his wife thrice in a year instead of twice as per Fules.

Moscow

Ambassador to Russia AK Nazrul Islam caused a loss of around Tk one lakh by travelling by first class air while returning to Dhaka with his family on retirement. As per rules, “heads of the missions cannot travel by first class air excepting while joining the mission and flying to Bangladesh with any head of state," the report said.

Brasilia

Minister SHMB Noor Chowdhury "irregularly" drew Tk 1.71 lakh in advance from the mission funds for attending the “Reo Environment Conference”.

"The amount is recoverable from the concerned official as it was not adjusted with the mission funds." the report said.

Chowdhury drew Tk 86.000 as CDA allowance though it was not allocated for him.

Bangkok

A first secretary (name not mentioned) paid around Tk 16.000 from the mission fund for storage charges of his personal goods which remained stranded at the Bangkok International Airport for 11 days, an audit of the mission’s account between July 1992 to December 1994 revealed.

Rabat

In Rabat. Tk 1.57 lakh drawn by Ahmed Sharful Hossain as advance to join as CDA at Rabat remained unadjusted.

An amount of Tk 2.68 lakh was recoverable from former Minister Ahmed Sharful Hossain as he "irregularly" drew excess duty and daily allowance, auditors said.

Air Force

The Kuwait mission lent Tk 57,000 to Bangladesh Air Force during the 1990 Gulf War. which remained unadjusted. It could not be known now the money was spent, auditors said.

Besides, tens of lakhs of takas were spent in violation of rules and without authorisation for security guards, taxi fare, car repair and various other reasons in different missions, the report said.