No New Cars for Ministers; 300 Approved for Election Work

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed on Tuesday clarified that no new cars will be purchased for future ministers. The recently approved procurement of around 300 vehicles is solely for officials conducting the upcoming national election.

Speaking at the Secretariat after chairing a meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase (ACCGP), Salehuddin said, “Some reports suggested I approved cars for ministers, but that is not true. The Public Administration Ministry sent such a proposal, but I stopped it. There will be no such purchase.”

Earlier, the ministry had sought approval to buy 60 luxury vehicles for ministers, advisers, state ministers, and deputy ministers of the future government.

Salehuddin confirmed that only the request for 300 vehicles for election-related duties was cleared. “The ministry said some vehicles are needed for the national election. If vehicles fail during the polls, it would disrupt work. That’s why we approved the proposal,” he said.

The procurement will include utility cars and microbuses for Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs), assistant commissioners (land), and some deputy commissioners. “We are keeping the process as cost-effective as possible,” Salehuddin noted.

According to finance ministry sources, the earlier shelved plan sought to buy 60 Mitsubishi Pajero QX vehicles at Tk1.69 crore each, costing a total of Tk101.61 crore. The Finance Division had initially endorsed it in late August, but it was withdrawn following public criticism.