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The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of parliament will scrutinise allegations of financial irregularities and misuse of public funds during the 17-year Awami League rule, the subsequent interim government and the current government.
If audit objections or allegations of financial misconduct are found to have merit, action will be taken against those responsible, said committee Chairman and Deputy Leader of the Opposition Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher.
He made the remarks while briefing reporters after a committee meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Tuesday (September 8).
Taher said the committee would review government expenditure under all previous administrations in phases. However, greater priority would be given to audit objections from the recent period, particularly 2024-25, to ensure accountability of those currently in office.
He said reviewing government expenditure and examining audit objections raised by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) are among the PAC’s key responsibilities.
“If there has been corruption anywhere, it will be investigated and action will be taken accordingly,” he said.
Eight audit objections involving Bangladesh Medical University received particular attention at Tuesday’s meeting, Taher said.
Although some of the objections have been resolved, a subcommittee has been formed to investigate the remaining issues. It has been instructed to conduct an on-site investigation and submit its final report within a week.
According to committee sources, major irregularities have allegedly been found in the distribution of income generated from diagnostic tests at Bangladesh Medical University.
Under government rules, specialists are entitled to 30% of the profit generated from diagnostic services after deducting the cost of providing the services. However, allegations have emerged that 30% was distributed based on total revenue rather than profit.
Explaining the issue, Taher said, “If Tk100 is earned from a service and Tk90 is spent on providing it, the actual profit is Tk10. Under the rules, specialists are entitled to 30% of that Tk10. But there, 30% was calculated on the entire Tk100.”
As a result, he said, crores of taka were allegedly taken in excess of what was permitted under government rules.
The committee has ordered an investigation into whether the practice violated laws and government regulations and instructed authorities to recover the excess amount. It also directed them to submit monthly updates on the progress of the recovery.
The PAC said it would prioritise major financial irregularities at various government institutions and projects, not just those involving the medical university.
Taher said audit objections from the interim government and other administrations would also be reviewed gradually. Institutions facing allegations of major corruption or financial irregularities have been instructed to be prioritised.
He added that officials would be held accountable if any institution failed to provide satisfactory responses to audit objections.
To ensure greater transparency, Taher said decisions taken at each committee meeting would henceforth be disclosed to the media through press briefings.