The government will purchase 50 brand-new Mitsubishi Pajero jeeps, which fall under the category of sport utility vehicles (SUVs), for upazila nirbahi officers (UNO) soon. The jeeps will be purchased through Pragati Industries Limited, a state-owned vehicle assembling plant, at a cost of Tk 94 lakh each without any tender, said sources in the public administration ministry. The ministry has already prepared a proposal to procure the SUVs. The proposal would be placed in the next meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Purchase, the sources added.

Talking to The Independent, a senior ministry official said they would procure 50 SUVs for visiting different land offices in their respective areas to properly monitor field  administration offices.  “The required funds will be allocated from the current fiscal budget of the public administration ministry for the purchase of Pajero jeeps,” he added.

According to the official, the vehicles would be purchased within the shortest possible time and would be handed over to UNOs. There are currently 442 offices of the UNOs across the country. Earlier, the public administration ministry bought 66 brand-new SUVs for the UNOs for the same purpose.