Online Desk:

State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam has said that investigations will be carried out into irregularities and corruption in the Local Government Division during both the Awami League and interim government periods, and necessary action will be taken.

He made the remarks at a briefing at the Secretariat on Saturday (May 23).

The state minister said the government has formed a seven-member investigation committee headed by the Director General of the Local Government Division to look into allegations of corruption and irregularities in the division and its subordinate offices and agencies from 2009 to 2026.

He added that the committee has been instructed to submit its report within 60 working days after reviewing both the Awami League and interim government periods.

He further said that during the interim government period, former adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan approved a project file without the signature of the secretary.

Highlighting irregularities in development projects in Pirojpur, he said that around Tk 6,000 crore was withdrawn after tendering a project without any actual work being carried out.

As a result, all development projects in the district have remained stalled for the past two years. He added that a field visit to Pirojpur will be conducted soon to restart the suspended projects.

The minister also said that similar irregularities and corruption have taken place in road and bridge construction projects in many other districts.