Press Release
Dhaka, September 17, 2025:Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has raised concerns about the Ministry of Public Administration's excessive eagerness to purchase overpriced luxury cars for newly elected government ministers, despite the fact that the proposal was initially rejected by the Ministry of Finance. TIB thinks it's also important to look into why people are so interested in this type of government purchase. Following the rejection of the initial proposal, a controversial new plan to acquire luxury cars at inflated prices has been put forward, sparking significant criticism. According to TIB, this is a repugnant recurrence of the sycophantic behavior of certain bureaucrats towards potential ministers of the next government, which is similar to the authoritarian regime of the past.
In a statement today, TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said, "The kind of transport facility a minister will enjoy is clearly stated in section 6 (A) of the Ministers, Ministers of State, and Deputy Ministers (Remuneration and Privileges) Act, 1973. According to the law, a minister is entitled to the use of a government car at all times. Ministers in the past and current advisers have been using cars. Could you please explain why, despite legal concerns, the Ministry of Public Administration wants to buy luxury Toyota Land Cruisers for future ministers? This is not understandable. We urge the government to look into the underlying causes of this tendency.
Dr. Iftekharuzzaman also stated that, "If the interim government approves this decision, it will call into question the government's prioritization of the purchase of luxury cars. How can the government be certain that the future ministers will accept this decision! This purchase contradicts the government's own decision to reduce expenses. Why is the government taking this contradictory step? Could this be considered a contradictory behavior from a government committed to accountability and state reform? Who in the government will be held accountable for this?"
According to media reports, the unused luxury cars imported under duty-free facilities for MPs of the 12th National Parliament will be available at lower prices, and the ministry thinks that "it will be difficult to travel to constituencies with the existing cars to carry out urgent work. Dr. Zaman stated that "the decision to purchase cars based on the proposal from a group of overzealous, self-serving, and sycophantic bureaucrats is unwelcome and unacceptable," highlighting that the argument presented to the media is genuinely surprising. "This example highlights the troubling continuation of opportunistic bureaucrats' influence, a practice that became normalized during the rule of the fallen authoritarian regime. We firmly urge that reckless decisions and sycophantic actions be avoided, that the plan to purchase expensive cars for future ministers be immediately withdrawn, and that the issue be put off until the next government makes a decision."
Media Contact:
Mohammad Tauhidul Islam
Director, Outreach and Communication
Phone: +8801713107868
Email: tauhidul@ti-bangladesh.org
