We are extremely disappointed that while the nation struggles with financial hardship amid the worst economic crisis we have faced in a decade, the government is indulging in luxury instead. On August 27, the finance ministry approved a proposal to spend Tk 380 crore to buy 261 new vehicles for deputy commissioners (DCs) and upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs), according to a report by Prothom Alo.As our foreign exchange reserves dip further, going under $22 billion, the government has increased their previous budget allocation from Tk 94 lakh to Tk 1.45 crore to purchase imported cars and gratify government officials ahead of the general election. This decision, which will also put a strain on our record-high import bills, is completely unacceptable.

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Why such disregard for directives on foreign trips?

What's more outrageous is that many of the officials who have bought new expensive cars, with interest-free loans, also use vehicles that have been provided by the ministries. Why is the government allowing officials to buy new expensive cars when they are not even necessary? This harmful culture has allowed greed to grow in a cancerous fashion in the public sector. Now, the University Grants Commission (UGC) and upazila engineers are also reportedly sending proposals to buy new cars.

it is beyond unfair that ordinary people will continue to suffer while public servants, who are meant to serve the people, continue to waste hard-earned public money.

Since the government announced belt-tightening measures in 2022, government officials have embarked on banned foreign trips as part of projects, acquired lavish apartment buildings using taxpayers' money, and gotten away with financial irregularities in a number of public offices. It was hoped that the austerity measures would save Tk 23,000 crore and push down inflation, but unsurprisingly, the savings amounted to Tk 15,000 crore, and inflation rate continued to skyrocket.

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Austerity for people, but luxury for govt officials?

The economic crisis we are in seems to only be reflected in the woes of ordinary people, with many of the previous austerity measures, such as bans on purchase of vehicles, being lifted. The rollback has paved the way for government officials to treat themselves with unwarranted grandeur. But it is beyond unfair that ordinary people will continue to suffer while public servants, who are meant to serve the people, continue to waste hard-earned public money. We, therefore, urge the government to take a much-needed firm stance against such unreasonable spending and reintroduce proper austerity measures – with accountability systems for non-compliance – to navigate the ongoing crisis.