Two opposition lawmakers came down heavily on the government yesterday in parliament for its failure to curb corruption.

Bangladesh has set a textbook example of plundering, BNP lawmaker Rumeen Farhana said while taking part in the discussion on thanksgiving motion on the president's speech.

"It has become normal that a pillow is being purchased at Tk 6,000, a vegetable cutter widely known as boti at Tk 10,000, a fork at Tk 1,000… a waste bin costs Tk 2.50 lakh, a medical book Tk 85,000, curtains Tk 37 lakh, and a telephone Tk 15 lakh," she said.

The president in parliament spoke about infrastructural development in details, "but I say this [infrastructure development] is a big source of looting", she told the House.

The lawmaker claimed the construction of one kilometre of a four-lane highway costs Tk 28 crore in Europe, Tk 10 crore in India, and Tk 13 crore in China on an average.

But in Bangladesh, the construction cost per kilometre of a four-lane highway is Tk 60 crore, she said, adding that even the per kilometre cost of the Dhaka-Mawa-Bhanga highway is Tk 200 crore.

Rumeen claimed that the cost of per kilometre bridge is Tk 500 to Tk 700 crore in India, Malaysia and Brunei but expenditure on per kilometre of the Padma bridge was Tk 5,000 crore.

She blasted the government for what she said was "failure to tackle the Covid-19 situation" and alleged that its corruption related to testing facilities, mask, PPE, oxygen distribution and others had made things complicated.

"Bangladesh is the only country where Covid-19 certificates were put on sale."

The BNP lawmaker claimed Bangladesh is paying about 47 percent higher to buy Covid vaccines as the government did not sign any contract with the Serum Institute of India directly.

'FAILURE OF BANGLADESH BANK'

Jatiya Party lawmaker Mujibul Haque said the banking sector is witnessing huge corruption due to the "failure of Bangladesh Bank" and lack of proper monitoring from the authorities.

"PK Halder is an example. He embezzled Tk 3500 crore, Hallmark siphoned off hundreds of crores of money while total defaulted loan stands between Tk 1 to 1.15 lakh crore. What is Bangladesh Bank doing? Does anyone see what Bangladesh Bank is doing?"

He also said, "Hundreds of crores of taka of different banks and financial institutions is being looted due to the failure of Bangladesh Bank. Nobody is checking these. We need to curb all these and if we fail to do so, the economy will be destroyed."

While taking part in discussion on the thanksgiving motion, he also said bureaucrats are the most corrupt in the country although people always point the finger at politicians.