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Anomalies in Meter Purchase JS body slams state minister

Iqbal rejects allegations

Shakhawat Liton
A parliamentary body yesterday came down heavily on the state minister for power and officials concerned of the Dhaka Electric Supply Authority (Desa) for their alleged involvement in irregularities in the process of purchasing electric meters. Ruling BNP lawmakers at a meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on power, energy and mineral resources ministry engaged in a heated debate on the issue with State Minister for Power Iqbal Hassan Mahmood, meeting sources said.
The state minister outright rejected the allegation of irregulari-
ties in purchasing 8,000 three-phase electric meters while the committee members alleged the authorities arc not giving the work order to the lowest bidder in the tender floated in April last year.
The parliamentary committee however rejected the explanations given by the state minister and senior officials of the Desa and asked the ministry to probe the allegations and submit a report in two weeks, sources said.
"We are not satisfied with the explanations of the ministry and the Desa as they could not give satisfactory answer to our queries," Committee Chairman Shahidul Islam told The Daily Star yesterday after the meeting held at the Jatiya SangsadBhaban.
The committee will discuss the issue at its next meeting, he said.
Three BNP lawmakers — Sardar Shakhawat Hossain Bakul, Shamsuzzoha Khan and Ilias Ali — expressed resentment at the tender process after the Desa officials apprised the meeting of the bidding for purchasing the meters.
The main opposition Awami League lawmakers who joined the meeting for the first time after their inclusion in the committee supported the BNP deputies.
Raising the allegation of irregularities, the committee members questioned the transparency of the tender process and demanded floating of a fresh tender. They also demanded punishment of the officials involved in the irregularities.
During the debate Shakhawat Hossain Bakul and Shamsuzzoha Khan were sharply critical of the state minister’s role. "You are not fully aware of your business," meeting sources quoted Bakul as saying pointing to the state minister.
"I am very much aware of my duty and I do not need to learn it from you," an angry state minister responded to his party lawmaker’s cri ticism.
Explaining the process of meter purchase, Mahmood said it would need more time to take decision on the matter as it involves many technical aspects. Senior officials of the Desa including its chairman supported the minister.
"We arc not here to be scolded by a minister," Shamsuzzoha Khan said reacting to the minister's comment. He said the executive bodies must be made accountable to the Jatiya Sangsad through the parliamentary committees.