Besides massive internal corruption, the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) is hobbled by immense political pressure distorting its recruitment process, according to a new study of the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).
It says politicians, including ministers, MPs and members of Public Accounts Committees, regularly ‘lobby’ the CAG office during appointment of 2nd-, 3rd and 4th grade staff.
At least six current ministers, two junior ministers and one parliamentary standing committee chairman, among others, have pressured the CAG office into recruiting at least one employee, the study revealed at a press conference at TIB office on Thursday, without naming the individuals.It says officials have reportedly been hired in the supreme audit institution of Bangladesh on the basis of bribes and nepotism, with senior officials often involved in the irregularities. Many of the staff can be said to be political appointees.
TIB programme manager (research and policy) Dipu Roy placed the findings of the study – ‘the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Challenges against Good Governance and Way forward’.
TIB trustee board chairperson Sultana Kamal, TIB executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman, deputy executive director Sumaiya Khair and director Rafiqul Hasan were present at the conference.
The study found that Tk 3-5 lakh has been exchanged as bribe in recruiting to the posts of auditor, junior auditor and driver. Unauthorised payment of Tk 50,000-1 lakh can secure getting appointed to audit in any chosen sector.
Illegal kickbacks ranging from Tk 5,000 to 1 lakh are paid in preparing annual audit reports of all audit sections, including Revenue Audit, Public Works Audit and Commerce Audit.
The damning revelations state that auditors take bribes from all institutions they audit, ranging from Tk 50,000 to 5 lakh in case of head offices of foreign-funded projects, to Tk 50,000 to 2 lakh for local offices of foreign-funded run projects.
Speaking at the press conference, Dr Iftekharuzzaman relayed a recent incident where six ministers allegedly pressured the CAG office for hiring their chosen candidate against one mid-level position.
Sultana Kamal said such lobbying by politicians in the hiring process has reached epidemic proportions, to the extent that people almost forget that it is wrong.
The TIB study strongly recommended announcing the proposed Audit Bill and new recruitment policy to bring transparency and cut corruption in the CAG office. – UNB
