Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has questioned the government's decision to retain the Tk 50,000 maintenance allowance for vehicles purchased through interest-free loans by entitled officials, despite a clear directive from the Prime Minister to reduce the cost. In a statement issued on Sunday, TIB suggested that undue influence from privileged bureaucrats may have led the government to abandon its earlier cost-cutting stance.

TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said the Prime Minister’s earlier decision to halve the maintenance cost to Tk 25,000 and cancel the interest-free loan facility was a commendable move aimed at reducing inequality and preventing misuse of public funds. He warned that reversing such a decision under pressure from vested interests undermines fiscal discipline and fairness in public administration.

He further noted that the preferential classification of certain officials was discriminatory and harmful to inter-cadre balance. TIB also reiterated its earlier recommendation for mandatory asset declarations by officials, expressing concern that the new salary scale may not ensure corruption-free public service without such transparency measures.