CAG audit report, including findings on the “pillow scandal,” submitted to the Prime Minister

The widely discussed corruption case known as the “pillow scandal” linked to the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project during the previous regime has been included among 38 audit reports submitted to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today.

The irregularities first came to light in 2019, centering on the procurement of furniture and electronic items for the “Green City” residential complex under the project. Notably, each pillow was reportedly purchased at Tk 5,957, raising serious concerns over large-scale embezzlement through inflated pricing of basic items.

Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Abu Abdullah M Saleh confirmed that Auditor and Comptroller General Md. Nurul Islam presented audit reports from various ministries and agencies, including the তদন্ত report on the pillow scandal, to the Prime Minister.

Reacting to the unusually high cost of the pillows, the Prime Minister remarked that such overpriced items should be preserved in a museum.

Earlier in the afternoon, Comptroller and Auditor General Md. Nurul Islam formally submitted the audit report for the 2021–22 fiscal year at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Secretariat.

According to the findings, corruption affected multiple stages of procurement involving Tk 169 crore allocated for the residential project. The report stated that in addition to the inflated pillow price, Tk 760 was charged for placing each pillow on beds. A comforter with a cover was priced at Tk 16,800, despite market rates ranging between Tk 4,000 and Tk 13,500. Similarly, imported bedsheets were purchased at Tk 5,936, although their market value was between Tk 3,000 and Tk 3,500.

Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani, Finance Secretary Dr Khairruzzaman Mozumder, and other senior officials from relevant departments were present at the time.