In a blistering critique of state-sponsored extravagance, the Executive Chairman of the Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC), Hossain Zillur Rahman, has condemned the opulent housing provided to senior bureaucrats. Addressing a policy dialogue on “Economic Governance and Corruption Prevention” at the CIRDAP auditorium this Thursday, Rahman remarked that the luxury flats on Minto Road reserved for government secretaries now boast amenities that rival, and in some cases exceed, those of five-star hotels.
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A Culture of Waste and Hubris
Dr Rahman argued that Bangladesh cannot progress without a radical overhaul of its expenditure management. He highlighted a troubling disconnect between the massive salary hikes awarded to public officials and the stagnant implementation rates of the Annual Development Programme (ADP).
“We see a surge in bureaucratic pay, but where is the audit of their efficacy?” Rahman asked. He further described a “cancer of vanity projects” infecting the state structure, pointing to several ICT parks that have failed so spectacularly they are now rented out as community centres merely to cover the wages of their security guards.
Governance Assessment: Luxury vs. Utility
| Sector | Critical Observation | Suggested Reform |
| Housing | Minto Road secretarial flats exceed five-star hotel luxury. | Re-evaluate maintenance and operational costs. |
| Infrastructure | ICT Parks serving as community centres/wedding venues. | Repurpose based on actual economic demand. |
| Bureaucracy | Sudden, unexplained appointments to Biman and other boards. | Mandate public disclosure of hiring rationale. |
| Digitisation | Tax returns remain paper-heavy despite “Digital” labels. | Simplify digital literacy and back-end integration. |
Strategic Inefficiency and Election Doubts
The seminar, organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS), also addressed the fast-approaching 13th National Parliamentary Election, slated for 12 February 2026. CGS President Zillur Rahman expressed profound doubt regarding the upcoming polls. While the administration promises a “historic” election, he warned it risks being remembered as one of the worst, noting that the government is currently making long-term policy decisions that should strictly remain the remit of an elected political body.
Dr Rahman identified three structural failings currently crippling the nation:
Financial Crises: Mismanagement of state liquidity and funding.
Opacity: A pervasive lack of transparency in high-level appointments.
Prestige Projects: Expensive ventures initiated solely to satisfy the ego of the powerful.
The Debate Over Lawmaker Privileges
The dialogue exposed a divide regarding the remuneration of Members of Parliament. While M. Abu Yusuf of RAPID questioned the necessity of tax-free vehicles and excessive ministerial staff, BNP Vice-Chairman Asaduজ্জামান Ripon offered a different perspective. Ripon argued that Bangladeshi MPs are underpaid compared to their counterparts in the Indian Parliament. However, he stressed that if salaries are increased, being an MP must become a full-time vocation rather than a “lobbying tool” for private business interests.
Ultimately, the consensus among the speakers was that corruption has taken on multidimensional forms that current reforms, including the Anti-Corruption Commission and various media commissions, have failed to visibly curb.