Tk 6 lakh chair, Tk 2.5 lakh wastebin: JS body summons livestock officials for inflated project costs

The parliamentary standing committee on fisheries and livestock today summoned concerned officials of Department of Livestock Services involved in preparing a project plan where prices of different items were estimated unusually high.

In the meeting, ruling Awami League MP and a member of the committee Mahbubul Alam Hanif raised the issue of the much talked about project of the Department of Livestock Services worth Tk 4,280 crore.

Prices of a chair for guests was shown at Tk 6 lakh, a device to measure the amount of water in milk has been estimated at Tk 3.32 lakh, a waste bin was shown Tk 2.5 lakh while the exhibition of dairy products in schools was shown Tk 10 lakh.

This unusual price was approved for purchase under a project titled "Livestock and Dairy Development."

Hanif said the abnormal prices of different items was meant to looting public money.

"The committee has asked the officials involved in preparing the detailed project plan to appear before the committee's next meeting and to explain about the justification of high prices shown in the project," Hanif told The Daily Star.

The parliamentary watchdog also asked the ministry to send only permanent staff and officials abroad to take part in training and workshops.

AL MP Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu presided over the meeting held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.