• Probe underway
• Lack of monitoring blamed

Selim Reza with Sabbir Mirza:

Allegation of massive corruption and irregularities has been intensified against Abdul Khaleque, Chairman of Talom Union Parishad in Tarash upazila of Sirajganj district over implementing of rural infrastructure development projects including Test Relief (TR), Food for Work and Work for Money (Taka) etc.

On the other hand, the Union Parishad has turned into a den of corruption due to arbitrariness of the chairman and lack of monitoring by the authorities concerned, locals complained.

Meanwhile, a probe body headed with Md. Jakir Hossain, Senior Assistant Commissioner of General Unit of the District Administration was formed by the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mir Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman to find it out after receiving a written complaint signed and submitted by the local Union Parishad Member Golam Mostafa and Nazir Uddin Mahuri.

The investigation team was also asked to submit report within a certain period, said Suiching Mong Marma, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) in Tarash Upazila.

According to the written complaint, the chairman Abdul Khaleque misappropriated lakhs of Taka sanctioned for the rural infrastructure development-Test Relief (TR), Food for Work and Work of Money (Taka) etc. for the FY 2022-23 and 2023-24 without implementing or partially implementing of the projects.

The complainants mentioned that, the chairman in collaboration with some unscrupulous officials of the local upazila administration including the than Project Implementation Officer (PIO) Farhad Latif, who has now been ordered to transfer elsewhere, has withdrawn bulk portion of the sanctioned money by implementing highest 20 to 30 percent works of some projects, though the work progress was shown cent percent on papers. Not only that, the money sanctioned for several religious institutions has been misappropriated by the chairman, it is alleged.

The allegation revealed that, Tk 3,58000 was allocated for construction of  soling road with bricks from the pond-bank of Abdus Salam to Gulta Pacca road in Golta Dakshmin Para of Talom Union under the financial year (FY) 2022-23. Later, 3.150 more metric tonnes of rice was also allocated for the same project.

Besides, Tk 4,76,000 and 3.150 metric tonnes of wheat were sanctioned against soil filling work for Shibpara Ashrayan (shelter) Project, road construction from Chackkolamula Primary School to Amzad’s home and soil filling for a play ground.

About 8.500 metric tonnes of wheat was also allocated for a road construction of Rokonpur graveyard. But, most of the works have not yet been implemented, they said.

Though, the construction of Boroichara Madrasha gate has been started recently at an estimated cost of Tk 2,81,669, its future is still uncertain. Tk 2 lakh was sanctioned against purchasing of furniture for Talom Union Parishad. But, there is no sign of furniture purchasing in the Union Parishad. There is allegation that, the total sanctioned money has been sucked by the chairman and his men.

Money sanctioned by the government has been pocketed without completing repairing work of road in Talom Union by its Chairman that creates dissatisfaction among the local residents. Photo: Sabbir Mirza

Besides, Tk 3,58,000 was sanctioned for three projects including road renovation from Mozibor house to Azgar house, while 6 metric tonnes of rice was sanctioned for soil filling on Boroichara Bhengri Eidgah ground, Tk 3 lakh for road construction from Boroichara Pacca road to Mayan house, 6 metric tonnes of rice for repairing of a high school’s play ground and Tk 2,58,940 for Boroichara Bhengri Mosque’s ablution hall (wash room) construction.

Speaking to The Daily Sky, Mayan Uddin, resident of Boroichara Bhengri village told that, “We have constructed ablution hall (washing or refreshing site for the Muslim devotees) with our own fund collected from general people. We have not yet got any money allocated by the government in the name of this Mosque. We heard that an amount of money has been allocated for it. But, we did not get so far.”

The money amount of Tk2,65,473 for Dewghor graveyard renovation, Tk 3,59,757 for road repairing from Maleque house to Natunpara graveyard and 5 metric tonnes of rice for road construction to Chackdebirampur village and renovation of its graveyard have been misused. The complainants have brought allegation that the chairman has misappropriated money collected through vat and taxes without paying salaries of the staffs and employees of his office.

A reliable source said that, the concerned PIO Farhad Latif has already been transferred to elsewhere due to several graft allegations. But, he is yet to discharge from the office due to recent nationwide unrest.

Md. Akhtaruzzaman, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) said, “I have come to know about forming investigation committee by the Deputy Commissioner to investigate into the allegation. But, I have no details about it.”

While contacted over cell phone, Abdul Khaleque, Chairman of the Talom Union Parishad in Tarash upazila declined the allegation and said, “A conflict between the chairman (him) and members has been created there over establishing supremacy in the area. In consequence of it, two members submitted the allegation with the intension to take illegal advantage from him.”