Jumbangla Desk: 22 projects were taken during the tenure of the previous Awami League government to loot 19 thousand crores from the information and communication technology sector. The interim government has stopped the work of these projects after coming to power. In particular, the Project Directors (PDs) have been instructed to stop all purchases. Besides, a high-level seven-member investigation team has been formed under the leadership of an additional secretary.

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According to the findings, most of the 22 projects were taken up in 2016. Some projects have a tenure of up to 2027. In some projects, the amount of money allocated is increased in several steps. Each project has been decided by the policy makers of the then government. The money for these projects was exempted by their direct decision. They were assigned to the firms or organizations of their choice for purchasing. After taking charge, the officials of the interim government expressed their anger after knowing the irregularities of 22 projects in the information and communication technology sector. He gave strict instructions to the inquiry committee to find out the details of those projects. The committee has already started working. Those concerned said that three aspects of the projects are being looked into. These are - how much money was looted, who were involved in the government and political parties and the details of the institutions that were given the job.

According to the investigation, under the Directorate of Information and Communication Technology, the most work of digital connectivity (EDC) project worth 5 thousand 923.73 crores was taken up. The duration of the project taken up in December 2021 is fixed till November 2026. Joint Secretary Tanzina Islam was given the responsibility as the project director. He said that he was unable to give detailed information about the project. However, he told Bangladesh Pratidin that 200 crores of work has been done so far. After that, there is a project titled Enhancing Digital Government and Economy (EDGE) worth Tk 2,541 crore. Another joint secretary Sakhawat Hossain is serving as its PD.

3rd highest project Rs 1,846 crore District level setting up of IT/Hi-Tech Parks (in 12 districts) 1st revised project. The fourth largest project of Rs 1,534 crore is 'Sheikh Hasina Institute of Frontier Technology'. Among the 22 projects, the least amount project is ``Education Online for Initiation-Skill Development'' at Rs.27 crore. Although Mohammad Kabir Hossain is named as the PD of this project, his identity has not been mentioned. Most of the PDs of these projects did not agree to give details about their projects to Bangladesh Daily.

837 crore Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Center (11 projects) 1st Revised, PD Raja Muhammad Abdul Hai told Bangladesh Daily that although his project was taken up in 2020, work has started late. He said that even if it is closed for the time being, the budget of the project may decrease.

287 Crore Rate Power Project: Empowerment of women with the help of technology-2nd phase PD Additional Secretary Manwara Ishrat said that 187 crore rupees of the project has already been spent. 78 crore has been allocated for the current year. When asked whether these projects were taken for the purpose of looting or not, Information and Technology Department Secretary Sheesh Haider Chowdhury told Bangladesh Pratidin that there are many questions about these projects. Therefore, the purchase of those projects has been stopped at the beginning of the current government. Projects have been closed as far as work has been completed. No new work is being done. He said, firstly, whether the procurement process was transparent or not i.e. whether it was intended to give work to someone or not. The second thing is whether the work of 5 taka was done for 5 taka or 20 taka - we are looking into these issues.

He said that a high-level committee of seven members has been formed on these issues. An additional secretary is in charge of it. The committee also has audit experts, legal experts. But we are not waiting for their report. Projects that are in question, such as a project where five floors of seven floors of work have been completed. We are cutting it off. Again, land has been acquired in Ajparagaon under some projects. If anything is done there, people will not be found. One such place has been acquired in Patuakhali but we have disposed of it.

He also said that after receiving the report of the investigation committee, it will be understood what kind of corruption has taken place in these projects. The amount will be known then. Such a beautiful building has been constructed near former minister Palak Saheb's house at Singra in Natore - light tight. Excellent computer bought on foreign loan. But there is no activity. Recently I went there myself. I have entrusted UNO there. The secretary said that not only looting but also those who were involved in these things will be investigated. The details of who was in our department, who was political and which firm was given the job are being sought.

Controversial 22 projects: Tk 330 crore mobile games and application skill development project, Tk 855 crore Aspire to Innovate (A2I) Tk 27 crore online education for initiation-skill development, Tk 442 crore establishment of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Academy (3rd Revised), 158 Enrichment of Bengali language in information technology through research and development worth crores of rupees (1st revised), 30 crore digital Sylhet city project (2nd (Revised), Tk 504 Crore Establishing Connectivity in Telecommunication Disadvantaged Areas (Connected Bangladesh) Project, Tk 167 Crore BGD-e-Government Capacity Building Project, Tk 2,541 Crore Enhancing Digital Government and Economy (EDGE) Project, Tk 49 Crore Govt. Project titled Strengthening of Conferencing Platform, Rs. 8 Crores Partnerships for a More Tolerant, Inclusive Bangladesh (PTIB).

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Apart from this, Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Center (11) project of Tk 837 crore under Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority (1st Revised), IT/Hi-Tech Parks at district level of Tk 1,886 crore (in 12 districts) (1st Revised) , Tk 533 crore Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Center Establishment (2nd Revised) Project, Tk 431 crore Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City-II Supporting Infrastructure Project (2nd Revised), Tk 353 crore Digital Entrepreneurship and Innovation Eco-System Development Project , Bangladesh-India Digital Services and Employment Training (BDSET) Center of Tk 74 crore, Sheikh Hasina Institute of Frontier Technology Tk 1,534 crore, Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Center of Tk 1,114 crore (14 projects). Apart from this, the Directorate of Information and Communication Technology is involved in three projects - 936 crores of digital labs in educational institutions project (2nd phase), 5 thousand 923 crores of establishment of digital connectivity (EDC) project and 287 crores of getting rate project: Empowerment of women with the help of technology - 2nd Phase Project.