The Hi-Tech Park initiative, launched by the ousted Awami League government with an expenditure exceeding Tk8,500 crore (around $1 billion), was originally intended to stimulate industrial growth and create job opportunities. However, according to the ICT white paper released on Thursday, it has instead become a symbol of how public resources can be mismanaged and squandered.
Part of the broader “Digital Bangladesh” vision, the initiative to establish a dozen parks was marred by corruption, political interference, and wasteful spending, as revealed by the white paper.
The paper critically assesses the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority and its role in these projects, shedding light on the scale of mismanagement and corruption.
What was initially presented as a transformative programme has been co-opted by political agendas, with decisions on site selection, construction, and vendor choice driven by political patronage rather than sound economic reasoning or industrial needs, it finds.
A taskforce formed by the interim government to investigate irregularities and mismanagement in various ICT-related initiatives undertaken by the previous government submitted the white paper following an extensive investigation and review.
Political interference, wasteful spending
The High-Tech Park Authority was supposed to be a key driver in the development of high-tech industrial zones, designed to attract foreign direct investment and foster local business.
However, the reality has been one of inflated costs, poor planning, and political meddling.
Take Kaliakoir Hi-Tech Park in Gazipur, for example.
The white paper reveals that Tk416 crore was wasted on unnecessary land acquisition and excessive building construction. The park was built with expensive materials like glass and aluminum, despite cheaper and more practical options being available.
This choice led to a 155% increase in construction costs, with public funds misallocated to costly, non-essential features.
Moreover, land acquisitions for the park were similarly inflated, with areas chosen that were far from ideal for high-tech business operations.
The result? Kaliakoir Hi-Tech Park remains underused. Businesses are reluctant to set up shop there due to poor infrastructure, unreliable utilities, and security concerns.
Political influence in site selection
The white paper clearly states that the site selection for these parks was influenced more by political considerations than by economic feasibility.
Local political elites ensured that the parks were established in areas that served their interests, not the country’s industrial needs.
For instance, Sylhet Hi-Tech Park was built in a flood-prone area, far from any business hubs.
Despite warnings from feasibility studies about its unsuitability, political connections pushed the project forward.
Similarly, Rajshahi and other parks were built not on the basis of demand or industrial needs, but to cater to the political aspirations of local leaders.
Even Kaliakoir, which is relatively close to Dhaka, faced similar issues.
While it is near the capital, the park suffers from poor infrastructure, unreliable power supply, and security risks, all due to political favoritism in site selection.
Vendor collusion, procurement manipulation
Another major concern highlighted by the white paper is the issue of vendor collusion and procurement manipulation.
Contractors were chosen based on their political connections, leading to inflated prices and substandard work.
The Sheikh Kamal IT Training & Incubation Center serves as a prime example.
According to the white paper, the bidding process for vendors was nothing more than a formality.
Contractors with political ties were awarded contracts, with prices inflated by as much as three times the actual market value.
This led to delays in the project timeline and subpar construction work, further contributing to the underutilisation of the parks.
Unfulfilled promises of job creation
Perhaps the most damning finding in the ICT white paper is the failure of these parks to generate the promised jobs.
Job creation was a central goal of the parks, yet most of them remain empty and under-occupied.
The Sheikh Kamal IT Training & Incubation Centers, designed to provide training for thousands of young people, have also failed to live up to expectations.
Many graduates from these centers reported that the programmes were outdated, poorly designed, and not aligned with industry needs.
As a result, instead of entering the digital economy, graduates find themselves unemployed or working in fields unrelated to their training.
The white paper notes that the lack of hands-on experience and real-world training in these centers contributed directly to this failure.
Instead of being a gateway to high-tech jobs, the centers have become another tool of political patronage, benefiting vendors and contractors rather than the young people they were supposed to help.
A call for reform
The ICT white paper recommends a depoliticised approach to project selection, based on feasibility studies and economic needs rather than political influence.
It urges transparent procurement processes, independent audits, and performance-linked financing to curb wasteful spending.
It also emphasises the need for industry-relevant training programs aligned with labor market demands.
