They find the ACC letter "disappointing", because they say the vehicles in question have not been "gobbled up illegally by any official". One of them says, "All the vehicles are being used by officials at the ministries. Those did not get disappeared into thin air."

The ACC in a letter on Saturday asked 13 ministries to report and explain the whereabouts of the vehicles purchased under different government development projects between 1995 and 2001.

A secretary requesting anonymity maintains, "This is a comparatively small-scale irregularity. Of course it needs to be addressed. But there are much bigger issues, bigger corruption in the government and the press is reporting them, too."

The commission's move followed a press report, according to which, after completion of the projects, the vehicles had not been deposited to the central transport pool as per the rule.

Interestingly, the report says these ministries have been regularly drawing the fuel allocated for the cars.

The ACC has given four days time for the ministries to reply to its query and has formed a four-member investigation committee, which is to submit its report within 15 days.

"We have received the letter and assigned an official to obtain information about 14 cars under three completed projects of the information ministry. We will send the facts gathered to the ACC in due time," Information Secretary A M M Nasiruddin, who was transferred to the Privatisation Commission yesterday, tells The Daily Star.

One of the secretaries says the misuse of project cars arises mainly out of a fear of red-tapism. When a project is over, the ministry concerned applies to the establishment ministry to get the project vehicles allotted for its use. The establishment ministry forwards the application to the finance ministry, who may then seek clarification. The applicant ministry formally gets the vehicles only after the finance ministry okays the transfer.

But, he says, this process can take quite a while, two to three years even. That is why the ministries tend to bypass the process of getting permission and starts using the cars directly violating the rules.

Another secretary describes what typically happens to 'project vehicles': As soon as a project ends, the ministry concerned allots the project vehicles to its officials without observing the proper procedures. The ministries have a high demand for cars and this is how that demand is met. However, some officials, who are not entitled to cars, also use such project vehicles by dint of their 'connections'.

Meanwhile, ACC Commissioner M Maniruzzaman Miah has become aggrieved at the commission for not informing or consulting him before taking the step about the project cars. "I came to know about it from newspaper reports," Miah tells The Daily Star.

The ACC staff and officials also have discussed Miah's grievance. An ACC official says three members run the commission together, so, there is no justification for taking such a decision without informing Miah. This may dampen the commission's team spirit, he fears.

But the other commissioner, Maniruddin, explains, "Maniruzzuman Miah is looking after administrative issues and I am looking after investigation. Therefore, I took the chairman's permission and sent the letter."

ACC MEETS PRESIDENT
The three-member ACC yesterday met President Iajuddin Ahmed and sought his support in discharging its duties.

ACC Chairman Justice Sultan Hossain Khan and commissioners Maniruddin Ahmed and Maniruzzaman Miah apprised the president about the structure and activities of the commission.

Though the commission was formed on November 21, it is yet to formulate its rules and regulations to function effectively.

A Banghabhaban statement termed the meeting a 'courtesy call', during which the president welcomed the commission and wished its success in building a society based on justice. He expressed the hope that the commission members would be able to ensure justice in all cases and thus fulfil the people's expectations.