Navy also invests in loss incurring state shipyard
Says BBC radio documentary
Bangladesh Navy, following the steps of the army, took over the loss-incurring Khulna Shipyard from the government for their own interest to enter into the business, said a BBC radio documentary "Probaho" yesterday.
Retired army and civil officers, bureaucrats, businessmen and civil society members came up with a consensus that direct hand-over of a state property to armed forces goes against the privatisation policy.
The eighth episode of the nine-part documentary titled "Fouji Banijjo"(Military in business) said the government not only handed over the shipyard to navy but also invested Tk 100 crore to help restore it.
Navy from its own budget also invested Tk 61.5 crore in Khulna Shipyard, which was established in 1954.
The shipyard had been profitable till 1976 under the industry ministry. It began to incur losses in the 90's. Though the navy claims the industry has become profitable once again, the rate of profit couldn't be known, as the navy headquarters did not give any statement in this regard, said the documentary.
The other industry run by the navy is Dockyard and Engineering Works Ltd in Narayanganj.
Though the navy for their own interest requested the government to hand over the industry to them, a publication of the dockyard claims that the government itself decided to hand over the loss-incurring industry to the navy.
"The authority of Khulna shipyard has been given over to the navy as it became a losing concern," Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan said adding, "To some extent they the navy are doing good."
"I believe army should not get involved in businesses. It is risky. It is not possible for army to continue with trading and business as this involves lack of transparency and accountability," said former adviser to the caretaker government Syed Manjur E Elahi.
"These type of organisations can be given under the authority of armed forces only when the armed forces are using the products of these organisations for military affairs," said former adviser to the caretaker government Dr Akbar Ali Khan.
If the purpose of production is other than military use, then the first thing what should be ensured is the best use of the government property, he said.
Dr Ayesha Siddika, former director of the Naval Research with Pakistan Navy, said, "I can tell you from my experiences as I had been the director of Pakistan Naval Research that armed forces think they are good at business. But it is their wrong idea."
She referred to the experience of Pakistan navy in Karachi Shipyard, which became unsuccessful after the navy took it over, the BBC documentary said.
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