During the tenure of the Awami League government (from the 2009-10 fiscal year to the 2023-24 fiscal year), RHD received over BDT 1.69 trillion through the Annual Development Program (ADP). However, between 23-40 percent of the allocated funds were reportedly misappropriated due to corruption, amounting to between BDT 292.3 billion and BDT 508.35 billion. The corruption involved contractors, ministers, a few members of parliament, politicians, and high-ranking officials. These findings were revealed in a research report published yesterday (Wednesday, October 9) by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).
At a press conference held to launch the report, TIB’s Executive Director, Iftekharuzzaman, stated, “Corruption in the development process was carried out through a three-way collusion between politicians, bureaucrats, and contractors. This collusion manipulated policy-making, public procurement, and project implementation to serve their interests.” He further highlighted that from the 2009-10 to the 2022-23 fiscal year, the government allocated nearly BDT 1694.5 billion for the road and bridge sector. Nearly BDT 292.3 billion to BDT 508.35 billion were embezzled from this fund.
He added that corruption had become institutionalized from the lowest to the highest levels, with 40-43 percent of project funds being siphoned off through bribery in the Roads and Highways sector. He warned, “If we do not break this three-way syndicate, no anti-corruption measures will succeed.”
The research further highlighted that corruption occurred in various forms, such as contractors renting licenses from established firms, purchasing work orders, engaging in illegal sub-contracting, colluding with competitors, and local political extortion. Corruption in work orders alone ranged from 2-6 percent of the allocated funds, while bribery for obtaining work orders and contractor payments reached 11-14 percent. Political influence, contractor involvement, and collusion with high-ranking officials facilitated corruption rates of 10-20 percent during the implementation of construction projects.
The report also noted that the governance of the road and highway sector had been compromised by the collusion between politicians, bureaucrats, and contractors, influencing decision-making processes, procurement, and project execution. As a result, widespread irregularities and violations of law were observed, leading to significant governance shortcomings in project planning and execution by RHD. Corruption had become institutionalized in road and highway development projects, allowing a few corrupt politicians, officials, and contractors to accumulate large sums of money through unlawful means. Consequently, projects were designed and implemented with the intent to facilitate corruption, resulting in extremely high costs, substandard roads, and bridges that failed to meet quality and durability standards. This has hindered achieving the intended project goals, leading to the misuse and waste of national resources.