Railway bought Tk5,000 lights for Tk27,700, ACC raid finds

LED lights priced at Tk5,000 in the market were bought for Tk27,700, according to documents obtained by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) from the East Zone of the Bangladesh Railway.

During a drive at the office in Chattogram on Thursday (28 March), a team of the commission found irregularities in the purchase of various fixtures and instruments, including LED lights.

They collected purchase documents for 90 LED lights from the electrical department's office. The documents for these lights showed that each LED lamp had been purchased for Tk27,700, according to the commission.

ACC officials said the market price determination committee could not show any official document about how the prices of these products were estimated.

"Other than the LED lights, the ACC team also collected documents related to purchasing lifting jacks, drilling machines and cutting jacks from the track supply officer's office," said ACC Assistant Director Enamul Haque.

The documents showed the estimated price of these products was Tk1.81 crore. However, railways showed they bought them for Tk1.97 crore.

ACC also found discrepancies in hiring contractors. Two vendors registered at the same address participated in a tender, and one of them was awarded the contract for supplying products and showed railway documents.

Enamul Haque said raids were carried out at several other places of the office and many discrepancies were found.

"We will review everything thoroughly and take further action," said Haque.