Misuse of climate funds

A recent Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) study on the use of public money for implementing climate projects by the Water Development Board (WDB) unearthed some disturbing findings. They show that in four out of six such projects, a group of politically powerful men have used their influence to award contracts to their "own men." Besides the blatant nepotism, other irregularities were also found, including sloppy implementation, embezzlement and due processes not being followed. These (mal)practices, as TIB pointed out, are symptomatic of a failure to ensure good governance, transparency and accountability by the WDB.

These findings are serious: the WDB was reportedly provided 40 percent of the total Climate Change Trust Fund money. Therefore, how effectively these public funds are being used is of public concern. The projects were undertaken to build and rebuild river embankments, infrastructures, polders, protecting river banks and dredging rivers to reduce climate risks—all issues of public welfare. It is unfortunate that a secretary, two local lawmakers, a central leader of the ruling party and a relative of a former minister should be found involved in the nepotism. Infrastructures in some projects were found to be already damaged, and in one case, the contractor sold several roadside trees and then embezzled the money. None of the projects were found to have been audited.

The TIB based their study on  interviews of around 600 people, including project directors, WDB staff, locals and contractors, conducted over a period of two years. Therefore, these are not allegations to be dismissed offhandedly. And as we have seen in the past few months, faulty implementation by contractors and lack of oversight are the norm in many other  projects across the country. We hope that the TIB report comes as a call to identify the issues that impede the proper use of public funds and prompt an immediate investigation. Otherwise the malaise of corruption and irregularities that we are all too familiar with will only spread more.