Security of Japanese consultantsRHD seeks special fund for a project

FT ONLINE

The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) has sought special allocation of funds amounting to Tk 414.87 million in a project for providing security to its Japanese consultants.

However, adequate safety measures have been taken for the consultants, as the government has been providing the maximum possible security for the consultants through its own system, officials said on Friday.

So, allocation of additional funds for the same purpose is wastage of public money, they added.

"After the terrorist attack in the Holey Artisan Bakery at Gulshan in July 2016, the government has been providing special security for the Japanese consultants and officials. So, why has RHD sought extra funds for the job?" asked a senior official of the Ministry of Finance (MoF).

After the Gulshan attack, Japan sought inclusion of security component with all its financed projects.

But the government refused to include any such provision, and offered the special security under its existing arrangements, he added.

The terrorists on July 01 attacked a restaurant at Gulshan in the capital, in which some 20 foreign nationals including seven Japanese consultants were killed.

Then the Japanese contractors, consultants and officials involved with the development projects in Bangladesh returned home and refused to come to Bangladesh again.

Subsequently, the RHD included security component in its ongoing Tk 24.86-billion 'Cross Border Road Improvement Project'.

The agency has recently sought revision of the project from the Planning Commission (PC), enhancing its cost by 48 per cent to Tk 36.84 billion.

A PC official said they will strictly scrutinise the project, and will seek MoF's opinion on the component, added to its Development Project Proposal (DPP).

A MoF official said after the Gulshan attack, the Japanese government was putting pressure on the government to incorporate the special security component in DPPs of all its financed projects.

"But we refused and offered them special security like the very important persons (VIPs), so that they can works smoothly in the country. The government security forces are still ensuring their security."

However, RHD's sudden incorporation of the security component into DPP will amount to wastage of money.

Another top official at MoF said if the government allows any DPP with provisions for special fund allocation for security, other bilateral and multi-lateral development partners will also demand the same.

"We borrow money from the partners for our development work. If the money is spent for other purposes, the development process will be hampered," he added.