PM jokes expensive pillow from Rooppur 'scam' should be kept in museum

The much-talked-about 'pillow scam' resurfaced today (5 May), with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman joking that one of the unusually expensive pillows should be kept in a museum after reviewing an audit report linked to the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project.

The 38 audit reports for the 2021–22 fiscal year, submitted to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, included findings on the 'pillow scam' linked to the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project during the previous government's tenure.

Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Md Nurul Islam presented the audit reports on various ministries and agencies to the Prime Minister at his office in the Secretariat, said Prime Minister's Press Secretary Saleh Shibly.

He said the reports also contain the investigation findings into the controversial purchase of pillows at unusually high prices.

"The Prime Minister noted the matter in the report and, on a lighter note, said one of those expensive pillows should be kept in a museum," the press secretary said.

The controversy dates back to 2019, when allegations surfaced over unusually high costs in procuring furniture and household items for the Green City Housing Project under the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project.

According to the audit findings, each pillow was priced at Tk5,957, while an additional Tk760 was charged as labour cost to carry each pillow to the flats.

The report also highlighted irregularities in the purchase of other items.

According to the Prime Minister's Office, the audit reports were prepared under Article 128(1) of the Constitution of Bangladesh and Section 5 of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Additional Functions) Act, 1974.

As part of the process, a total of 38 compliance and performance audit reports covering 17 ministries and divisions, along with their directorates, departments, institutions and projects, were submitted to the Prime Minister before being placed in Parliament.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister was briefed on key observations and recommendations highlighted in the reports. 

He stressed the importance of ensuring transparency and accountability in public spending and in assessing whether development projects are achieving their intended objectives.

He also underscored the need to strengthen performance audits alongside compliance audits.

Officials said the audit reports will also be placed in Parliament.

Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani, Finance Secretary Md Khairuzzaman Mozumder and other senior officials concerned were present during the submission of the reports.