HC wants report on steps taken in Rooppur apartment furnishing graft

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Bangla Tribune Report
Published : 17:40, Jul 21, 2019 | Updated : 17:41, Jul 21, 2019

A general view of the Supreme Court building of Bangladesh. File Photo/Sazzad HossainThe High Court has asked for an update on the steps taken over the abnormal discrepancies in the prices of articles used to furnish apartments in multi-storey buildings at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project (RNPP) in Pabna.

The bench of Justice Tariq ul Hakim and Justice Md Shohrowardi gave the order on Sunday (Jul 12).

Previously on Jul 2, the HC had asked what steps were taken against those involved with the graft in accordance to the recommendations made by the public housing ministry committee’s probe report.

The court also issued a rule asking why failure of individuals to show good faith while purchasing the articles shouldn’t be declared illegal.

Six people including the secretaries of the public housing and science and technology ministries were made respondents to the rule.

The report recommended steps against 50 people including Chief Engineer Masudul Alam over the discrepancy of over Tk 364 million in the purchase of furnishings meant for the apartments.

According to a media report that went viral on social media, the purchasing prices of various household articles used to furnish the RNPP project apartments, were abnormally higher than market prices.

The purchases were made to furnish 966 apartments constructed for the Russian engineers, and officials working on the project.

The media report claimed that, each of the pillows were purchased for Tk 5,957, and the cost of transporting was Tk 760 each, while an electric stove reportedly cost Tk 7,747 and transporting it—from the bottom floor to upstairs—cost Tk 6,650.

Moreover, the purchasing price of an electric kettle was cited as Tk 5,313, and its transportation cost cited as Tk 2,945. A vacuum cleaner was reportedly purchased for Tk 12,018 and transported upstairs for a charge of Tk 6,650.

The report also claimed the price of an electric iron had been cited as Tk 4,154. Transporting the iron cost Tk 2,945.

Moreover, a television reportedly cost Tk 86,970, and carrying it upstairs cost Tk 7,698. A refrigerator also reportedly cost Tk 94,250, and its carrying cost was Tk 12,521.

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