The Department of Social Services is demonstrating significant interest in constructing buildings, despite being unable to adequately provide services to government shelters for vagrants due to a shortage of manpower. They are actively advocating for the approval of a project totaling 0.97 billion taka aimed at constructing new buildings for six shelters.
Social Services Department has resorted to ‘manipulation’ to initiate this project. They have divided the 0.97-billion-taka project into 81 parts, aiming to bypass the requirement for approval from the Cabinet Committee on Public Procurement and the Prime Minister’s Office for procurement.
Public Works Department typically handles construction projects such as government buildings, drawing upon their extensive experience in this area. However, there is a desire to have the social service building constructed by a third party, specifically a private organization. This decision has prompted questions regarding the rationale behind excluding the Public Works Department from undertaking building construction projects.
The social service project is currently awaiting approval from the Planning Commission. Sources within the Commission indicate that despite lobbying efforts, certain officials are displaying reluctance to grant approval for the project.
A former director general of the Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU), an agency responsible for assessing proposals for government purchases, stated, “There is an issue here with multiple packages for identical types of work. This tactic seems to have been employed to ensure that the project is awarded to a preferred entity. This approach should be reconsidered and withdrawn.”
Efforts to reintegrate vagrants and beggars into society through government supervision, training, and other methods have a long history. In 1943, Bangladesh enacted the Vagabonds Act for this purpose. Additionally, in 2011, the government passed the Displaced and Destitute Persons (Rehabilitation) Act.
There are a total of six shelters in the country under the Directorate of Social Services: two in Gazipur near Dhaka, and one each in Narayanganj, Manikganj, Mymensingh, and Mirpur in the capital. Four of these shelters were constructed in 1977, while the remaining two were built earlier, in 1961. These shelters serve as accommodation for vagrants, destitute individuals, and beggars. However, the buildings are currently in a dilapidated state.
A project proposal titled ‘Reconstruction of existing six government shelters’ for the construction of buildings in these shelters was initially submitted to the Planning Commission in June of the preceding year. Since then, the project has been in progress.
Upon reviewing the Social Service Development Project Proposal (DPP), it is evident that although the tasks across the six shelters are nearly identical in the proposed project, the work has been subdivided into 81 smaller packages. These packages range from 100 million taka to 200 million taka, with the maximum amount allocated for a single package being approximately 580 million taka.
According to the documents, 74 packages have been assigned to the project manager, who serves as the ‘purchase sanctioning authority’. The Ministry of Social Welfare has been designated as the approver for the remaining seven packages, which include the construction of six hostel buildings.
According to the directives outlined by the Ministry of Finance of Bangladesh under the title ‘Financial Empowerment’, any purchase proposal exceeding 1 billion taka for construction and related works must be presented to the Cabinet Committee on Government Procurement for approval. The Finance Minister serves as the chairman of this committee, which comprises a total of 13 ministers and state ministers along with 9 secretaries.
Government officials from relevant organizations emphasize that ensuring transparency, preventing irregularities, nepotism, and ensuring accountability are among the primary responsibilities of the Cabinet Committee on Government Procurement. However, Planning Commission sources reveal that 81 procurement packages have been structured for the project to circumvent the oversight of the Cabinet Committee. Section 17 of the Public Procurement Rules (PPR) prohibits the division of projects into multiple packages to avoid specific procurement procedures or superior officer approval, unless justified by geographical conditions. While procurement rules allow for multiple packages to facilitate implementation, government procurement experts argue that having 81 packages for six shelters in five areas lacks justification.
Upon reviewing the documents, it is evident that approximately three crore rupees have been allocated for purchasing furniture for the government shelter in Kashimpur, Gazipur, while about four and a half crore rupees have been earmarked for public buildings. Additionally, three crore rupees have been allocated for Mymensingh, approximately four crore rupees for Narayanganj, two crore rupees for Mirpur, and two crore rupees for Manikganj. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, an executive engineer from the Public Works Department remarked that if desired, the procurement of furniture could have been consolidated into a single purchase.
Similarly, bedding, sports equipment, machinery, construction of electricity substations, lifts, construction of temporary canopies, and construction of academic blocks have been segmented into separate packages.
When questioned about the strategy of dividing the proposed project into smaller packages, Director General of the Social Services Department, Abu Saleh Mustafa Kamal, stated that he would investigate the matter thoroughly and take appropriate action if necessary.
According to media reports, the project was initiated prior to the 12th National parliamentarian elections. There has been a move to assign the construction work to private companies instead of the Public Works Department, possibly in order to engage preferred contractors.
The Department of Social Services has previously undertaken projects in segmented portions, raising concerns about bypassing the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) under the guise of training backward communities. In August of last year, an investigation into six projects revealed numerous irregularities in training programs, including financial mismanagement. Additionally, it was discovered that projects were awarded to organizations affiliated with influential government figures, often labeled as ‘charitable projects.’
Several officials from the Department of Social Services emphasized the necessity of constructing a new building in the shelter. However, they stressed the importance of ensuring transparency throughout the project implementation process.
The government shelters managed by the Department of Social Services are currently facing significant challenges in providing adequate care and services to residents. Despite a total capacity of 1,900 seats across six shelters, only 909 residents are currently accommodated, highlighting a glaring gap between capacity and occupancy. Moreover, there is a noticeable shortage of manpower exacerbating the situation.
Abu Saleh Mustafa Kamal, Director General of the Social Services Department, acknowledges the manpower crisis and emphasizes the urgency of recruitment alongside new project initiatives. However, he acknowledges the lengthy recruitment process, which delays addressing the critical shortage. A proposal for the recruitment of 458 personnel is currently pending approval.
The Department of Social Services aims to provide comprehensive support to residents, including maintenance, security, sustenance, education, vocational training, and rehabilitation to foster self-reliance. However, recent observations at the Mirpur-1 shelter on February 5 raised concerns about the quality of care provided. Instances of neglect, such as a four-year-old child being cared for by another resident and signs of physical abuse on some individuals, underscore the dire conditions.
Furthermore, the lack of attendants, medical staff, and training programs at the shelter exacerbates the challenges. Despite a capacity for 200 residents at the Mirpur shelter, only 56 residents are currently accommodated. Moreover, out of the 30 sanctioned positions, only 12 staff members are currently employed, leading to an inability to provide adequate services.
Mohammad Saiful Islam, Deputy Assistant Director of the Mirpur Government Shelter, explains that residents have been relocated due to the lack of medical personnel and attendants. Despite efforts to fill vacancies, including the need for 10 attendants, positions remain unfilled not only in Mirpur but also in other government shelters, further hindering their ability to deliver essential services.
Several government-built structures across the country remain unused post-construction due to a lack of manpower and various other reasons. For instance, in the last six years, the government has erected 15 Institutes of Health Technology (IHT) buildings in 14 districts for medical technologist training. However, these buildings stand empty due to the absence of necessary staff appointments and trainers.
Concerned individuals suggest that officials benefit from such constructions, engaging in various forms of corrupt practices such as commission trading in procurement processes. Contractors also reap benefits, contributing to a heightened focus on construction projects rather than service delivery. The Social Services Department not only exhibits keen interest in building construction but also strategically undertakes projects.
Commenting on the new social service project, Iftekharuzzaman , Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), expressed concern over the apparent connivance of influential figures in project distribution, indicating evolving corrupt practices. Despite the government’s proclaimed zero-tolerance policy against corruption, Zaman urged authorities to scrutinize social service schemes for transparency and accountability.
