Finance Minister Saifur Rahman yesterday expressed utter frustration at the persistent irregularities and wastage of public money he had witnessed in government offices in his 13-year career as a minister, and said morality, not

FROM PAGE 16

rules, could change the situation.

"Framing rules won't help much, unless people become sincere. I've been with the government machinery for 13 years. I am frustrated," he told the launching ceremony of the Public Expenditure Management Manual and the Internal Control Manual at the NEC auditorium.

The manuals were prepared under the DFID-funded Financial Management Reform Project of the government with a view to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the use of public coffers. From now on every ministry will have to follow these manu-alsin expending public funds.

Speaking as the chief guest of the function, the finance minister said the macro-level financial management starts with the budgeting. The budget spells out how much money the government is going to spend, and for what, in a fiscal year. But, within a month or two, the ministers and the secretaries start to clamour for more allocations, Saifur observed, adding, "Then what is the point of preparing a budget?" In fact, in his opinion, the ministries do not exercise budgetary control.

The finance and planning minister said a particular project is finalised through elaborate scrutiny by the line ministry, and then again verified and approved by the planning ministry. But, afterwards, the project cost increases by 50 to 100 percent and sometimes even by 200 percent, he noted.

Saifur said a minister has the authority to approve projects costing up to Tk 25 crore. Therefore, he pointed out, projects are deliberately planned so that each one's cost amounts to around Tk 24 crore. But, after six project months, they [the ministers] send letters asking for more money on various pretexts, he described and said, "This is what is

happening in our country."

The finance minister also depicted a number of anomalies committed by the health and education ministries. The health ministry often imports expensive machinery, which then remain unutilised and finally go out of order, Saifur said.

He narrated how once he went to a hospital and saw an X-ray machine that had remained unwrapped for a long time. On investigation Saifur came to know that the doctor-in-charge owned a pathological clinic and, if he brought the X-ray machine at the hospital into operation, he would lose clients of his clinic. So, the machine remained unutilised, Saifur explained, regretting, "This is what is being done with the public money."

The municipalities, which he said are swamped with manifold irregularities, are always asking for money. "If a municipality has 200 cleaners, you will see half of them working at the houses of the municipality members. This is how public money is wasted."

Saifur said, "Many are now talking about a public procurement law. But, if the contractors decide among themselves to show an expenditure of over Tk 15 crore when the real cost is less than Tk 10 crore, what can thelaw do?"

He also pointed out that many 'big fellows' do not pay due taxes, while the small ones do.

After sketching the gamut of irregularities and wastage of public funds, Saifur said, "If the manuals are followed even by 50 percent, it would be quite a lot."

Comptroller and Auditor General Asif Ali, DFID Bangladesh Country Chief David Wood, Finance Secretary Siddiqur Rahman Chowdhury and Finance Division Joint Secretary Arastu Khan also spoke at the ceremony.