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Published : 21 Apr 2026, 06:59 PM
A five-strong committee has been formed to investigate allegations of irregularities and inflated pricing in procurement at the Parliament Secretariat.
Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad directed the committee to submit a report within seven days, the Parliament Secretariat said on Tuesday.
According to a media statement, the move followed reports published over “Rampant plunder in parliamentary procurement” in Bangladesh Pratidin and several online news portals.
The committee is headed by ABM Ashraf Uddin Nizan, MP for Lakshmipur-4 and chief whip.
Other members include Luthfullahel Mazed of Mymensingh-8, Md Saiful Alam Milon of Dhaka-12, reserved seat MP Humam Quader Chowdhury of Chattogram, and Md Abul Hasnat of Cumilla-4.
Earlier on Sunday, the secretariat said an investigation committee had already been decided upon, adding that no payment would be made against the questioned procurement until the probe report is submitted.
A report published in Bangladesh Pratidin claimed that cameras, lenses, memory cards, batteries, flash units and other accessories were purchased at “several times above” market value.
It alleged that equipment worth Tk 5.84 million had an actual market price of less than Tk 2 million, citing sources involved.
The report also alleged that although the tender specified a particular brand, products of different brands were supplied in some cases.
It further claimed that while delivery was scheduled within 30 days, the equipment was handed over in just 19 days.
Saf Traders, the supplier company, defended the pricing.
General Manager Mirajul Islam told Bangladesh Pratidin that higher costs were due to premium branded goods as well as VAT and taxes.
The report also quoted Senior Assistant Secretary Md Mahidul Haque, who signed the procurement order, as saying that a committee had approved the purchase.
“I am new to the [Parliament] Secretariat and had to sign due to my official position. The process was completed before I joined,” he was quoted as saying.
