On the issue of hurried approval, the ministry yesterday said the programme of introducing machine-readable passport (MRP) and ID card is late by a year since it was conceived and approved by the prime minister more than two years ago with the implementation date of July 1 last year. Despite having the urgency of introducing MRP and ID card immediately, the ministry took more than 18 months to work out its requirements based on foreign studies, approved programme strategy and government procurement regulations and procedures.

About non-clearance of the scheme by the finance ministry, the rejoinder says the home ministry already proposed to the finance ministry budgetary allocation for it. The programme appears in the budget book. However, allocation for the programme is under discussion subject to finalisation of the contract with the successful bidder.

On the issue of framing a law to make national ID cards mandatory, the rejoinder said the ministry has already started the process of framing the required law.

Referring to the proposed National Registration Department (NRD), it said the home ministry has approval from the establishment ministry to set up the NRD, giving an outline of the human resources required. The home ministry has also taken up the issue with the finance ministry.

On the reported influence of the alternative centre of power, the home ministry said it is not aware of any such centre of power. The ministry is aggressively pursuing the scheme so that Bangladeshis are allowed to travel overseas in future for work as well as business without facing any harassment. There is also a growing demand from the international communities as well as expatriate Bangladeshis for MRP.

Turning to tagging of ID card with passport, the ministry said it is being done as per recommendations of the national committee and the cabinet committee concerned. The prime minister has approved the recommendations.

The ministry has set up a programme management unit to supervise implementation of the programme.

On the appointment of a consultant, the ministry said that was based on the prime minister's approval. As the programme will be funded from the revenue budget, no donor involvement for hiring consultant is required since there is no foreign funding.

The rejoinder said a high-level interview committee headed by the state minister for home and consisting of a number of key secretaries interviewed the consultant and recommended his appointment. The consultant has done similar IT projects in Pakistan, US and the Maldives.

The tax-free income was the condition proposed by the consultant, who is a US citizen and already pays tax to the US government, and Bangladesh does not have double taxation agreement with US as yet.

The additional secretary of the home ministry was not removed from the ministry, rather he was promoted and transferred elsewhere in due process.

The consultant did not fix the criteria for selection of firms. It was decided by the home ministry in consultation with experts from within and outside the ministry.

On the issue of tender documents favouring a particular bidder, the ministry said the documents were prepared in consultation with the Implementation, Monitoring, Evaluation Department (IMED) and the specifications following ICAO requirement were made by a high-powered committee comprising experts from different fields outside the home ministry. Only the consultant did not prepare the documents.

All the amendments to the tender documents were made as per government rules and guidelines.

On sub-contracting, the ministry said it will sign contract with one bidder having required experience for the ease in managing and executing the programme. There is no compulsion for subcontracting in the rules.

Referring to open/restricted tender, the ministry says it went for an open tender where 34 firms submitted expressions of interest. Of them, four were qualified according to the criteria given by the ministry. Tender documents were distributed among all the four firms strictly following the PPR, 03 and tender norms.

Our Reply:
The rejoinder fundamentally did not contradict The Daily Star report on the main issues.