No one involved in corruption will go unpunished, says parliamentary committee

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Government Institutions has recommended identifying those involved in financial irregularities committed under the previous government and taking strict legal and administrative action against them.

The recommendation was made at the committee's eighth meeting on Sunday (8 November) at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. The meeting was chaired by the committee's president and the Chief Whip of the Jatiya Sangsad, Nurul Islam Moni.

Committee members and Whips Mia Nuruddin Ahmed Apu and Md. Akhtaruzzaman Mia, along with Mosammat Tahsina Rushdir, Khandaker Abu Ashfaq and Mustafizur Rahman Bhuiyan, attended the meeting.

The meeting reviewed various audit objections of the Chattogram and Mongla port authorities under the Ministry of Shipping. The objections discussed included those awaiting settlement through recovery, adjustment, write-off, condonation, regularisation and retrospective approval.

Objections awaiting final settlement on the recommendations of the Comptroller and Auditor General, and progress in implementing the decisions of the committee's previous meeting, were also reviewed.

The meeting recommended identifying those involved in financial irregularities under the previous government and taking the necessary legal and administrative measures against them. The committee took a firm position that no one involved in wasting public money or corruption should escape accountability.

At the same time, officials and employees were warned that no form of corruption or irregularity would be tolerated during the present government either.

The meeting stressed the use of international platforms and artificial intelligence-based technology to prevent over-invoicing and under-invoicing in import-export activities.

It also recommended initiatives to introduce automatic duty payment through e-billing and e-payment systems and faster clearance of goods, to make port services easier, more transparent and more dynamic.

The meeting expressed strong dissatisfaction over the port authorities' FDR investments in various commercial banks — especially troubled and private banks — the failure to withdraw money even after maturity, and investment of excess funds outside the policy.

It recommended effective discussions with the banks concerned, necessary legal steps, and departmental action against those responsible, and informing the committee. It also recommended arrangements to keep all port authority funds in government banks in future.

The meeting recommended settling by December 2026 the long-pending problem of auctionable containers and vehicles lying at Chattogram port. It also recommended identifying those involved in taking out loaded containers from the port in the name of empty containers and in container theft, and taking the necessary administrative action against them, and informing the committee at its next meeting.

The dredging activities of Mongla, Payra and Chattogram ports, achieving the designated draft and navigability, and container terminal construction projects were also reviewed. The meeting recommended investigating the money spent on these projects, identifying irregularities and taking necessary action against those responsible.