Ashraful Islam Joy with Serajul Islam Shishir:

A-three-member team of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) led by Sadhon Chandra Sutradhar, Assistant Director of its Pabna Integrated District Office on Monday conducted a drive at the office of Sirajganj Degree College’s Principal Prof. Md. Aminul Islam in response to allegations of corruption and irregularities.

The allegations include realizing additional fees from the students for transport sector and miscellaneous purposes, misuse of student welfare fund and government allocations, excessive expenditure on foods, irregularities in teachers and staffs’ recruitment and promotion, and various other misconducts.

During the drive, the ACC officials quizzed Professor Md. Aminul Islam, Principal of the Sirajganj Government College on different alleged issues. They also checked and seized several files and papers and talked to the college’s staffs and teachers to find out the real facts over the allegations.

An allegation revealed that, there has been anger among the students over the transport sector for a long time as there is no any Hi-ace car for the students in the college. But the college authorities realize an amount of fees from the students as transport cost. Actually, a car, which have, is used for carrying college principal, teachers and staffs several times on different purposes.

However, the expenses have been calculated by showing the kilometers through the logbook. There are allegations that, this vehicle is mainly used by the principal and some teachers, but the cost is imposed on the students.

The ACC officials also pay special attention to the issue carefully during the drive, they said.

Assistant Director Sadhan Chandra Sutradhar said, “Initially, we have found some discrepancies in some cases. We have checked the logbook of the transportation sector. There is no evidence of students’ use anywhere. Rather, only the principal, teachers and staffs of the college have used the car several times in different purposes. But the expenses, which alleged as unusual, will be more investigated.”

It is worth noting that, recently a complaint was submitted to the ACC against the principal Aminul Islam. The complaint stated that, the college spent about Tk 6.2 million on maintenance of a Hiace vehicle, driver’s salary and fuel expenses in a year. In addition, it is alleged that, although about Tk 6.25 million was realized from the students by collecting Tk250 per head every year, no transportation system was introduced in the college so far. Based on this complaint, ACC conducted the drive, ACC sources claimed.

The complainants alleged that; the money collected from the students as fees is not used properly. Although, this has increased the financial pressure on the students, the academic facilities have yet not been improved much.

Some teachers and staffs, who cooperated to the ACC officials during the operation said that, a lot of money may have been misused due to the principal’s unilateral decision. Even though giving objection many times, he did not pay attention to it, which has created anger among some teachers. As a result, they have filed a complaint against the principal. However, if proper investigation is done, the real mystery will be revealed and all doubt about it will be removed.

In response to queries of journalists, Sirajganj Government College Principal Md. Aminul Islam said, “Not a single taka has been spent without rules. The money of the transportation sector has also been kept in the bank. If there is any expense, it is also taken from the bank and spent. I have made every expense within the system. An influential quarter has started conspiring against me since the beginning of my joining at the post.”

ACC also informed the journalists that, after the initial investigation, a detailed report will be sent to the commission. Then, further action will be taken as per the recommendations.

Conscious circles believe that, this drive will help to verify the truth of the long-standing allegations. If the allegations are proven, the guilty persons will be punished according to the rules. As a result, the interests of students will be protected. Or, if the allegations are proven false, punitive action will have to be taken against the complainants.