Sunday, 5th April 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 23rd January 2026, 12:28 AM
Prominent economist and Executive Chairman of the Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC), Hossain Zillur Rahman, has launched a scathing critique of government extravagance, specifically targeting the opulent housing provided to senior civil servants. Speaking at a policy dialogue titled “Economic Governance and Corruption Prevention” held at the CIRDAP auditorium on Thursday, Rahman asserted that the luxury flats on Minto Road reserved for government secretaries now rival five-star hotels in their amenities.
Dr Rahman raised fundamental questions regarding the lack of oversight in state spending. While the government has significantly increased the salaries of public officials, he noted a distinct lack of data connecting these pay hikes to improvements in the implementation of the Annual Development Programme (ADP).
“Where is the explanation for these salary increases?” he questioned, highlighting a “cancerous” spread of wasteful projects within the state machinery. He pointed to ICT parks that, failing their original purpose, are now being rented out as community centres just to generate enough revenue to pay for security guards.
| Issue Area | Observation by Experts |
|---|---|
| Bureaucratic Perks | Minto Road flats described as “ultra-luxurious,” exceeding private hotel standards. |
| Project Efficiency | ICT parks underutilised; some used as wedding venues/community centres. |
| Transparency | Sudden, unexplained appointments to high-profile boards (e.g., Biman Bangladesh). |
| Digital Reforms | Tax filing remains paper-heavy and complex despite “digitalisation” claims. |
| Public Spending | Rising operational budgets for ministers/MPs vs. declining development impact. |
The dialogue, organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS), also touched upon the looming 13th National Parliamentary Election scheduled for 12 February 2026. CGS President Zillur Rahman expressed deep scepticism, fearing that while the government promises the “best election in history,” it may result in the opposite. He criticised the interim administration for making major policy decisions that should ideally be reserved for a political government, leaving the true intentions of the state unclear.
Dr Rahman identified three “severe inefficiencies” currently crippling the state:
Funding Crises: Mismanagement of national liquidity.
Opacity: A total lack of transparency in decision-making, such as recent board appointments.
Arrogance Projects: Costly ventures designed more for the prestige of the powerful than for public utility.
The seminar saw a clash of opinions regarding the benefits of lawmakers. M. Abu Yusuf, Executive Director of RAPID, questioned why MPs and ministers continue to enjoy tax-free vehicles and excessive personal staff. Conversely, BNP Vice-Chairman Asaduজ্জামান Ripon argued that Bangladeshi MPs are actually underpaid compared to their Indian counterparts. He suggested that while perks should be sufficient, the role of an MP must be a full-time commitment rather than a “part-time shield” for business interests and lobbying.
Dr Saima Haque Bidisha of Dhaka University concluded that while digitalisation could mitigate corruption, it requires genuine digital literacy and a move away from the current “paper-dependent” hybrid systems that only add to the complexity of public service.
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