Special Correspondent:

“There is a prohibition to talk with media. We have just engaged in investigation to find out the real fact. If you want to know anything, you can contact to the head office,” said the Convener of 5-member technical investigation committee Ferdous Zaman, when journalists tried to queries him about the investigation on Tuesday.

Photo: TDS

But, he hinted that, they have found some evidences of corruption and irregularities, which are not possible to disseminate right now for the sake of further investigation.

The 5-member probe body started investigation on November 16 over the grafts, anomalies and money embezzlement allegations against the concerned contractors and the then Project Director (PD) Jafor Bayezid, who is now serving at the regional office in Rajshahi after promoting to regional director from PD despite massive allegations.

The government has formed the probe body making Ferdous Zaman, Executive Engineer of the Civil Engineering Department as Convener after publishing several news-reports by various media outlets including The Daily Sky revealing gross anomalies and corruption by the then PD Jafor Bayezid and concerned construction firms-Arafat Construction and Western Private Limited.

Partial view of the probe body’s work. Photo: TDS

The probe body includes Md. Azizur Rahman, Extension Officer of the Project Management and Implementation Department as Member Secretary. The remaining three members are Md. Asmaul Islam Siam, Planning Officer of the Planning and Research Department and Assistant Engineer Shahadat Hossain and Sirajganj BSCIC Industrial Park Chief (with additional charge) Hirammoy Bardhan. The committee has been asked to submit report to the head office within a certain period after completing spot visit and necessary inquiries.

According to the allegation, being a close relative of A.H.M Kayruzzaman Liton, Presidium Member of Awami League and former Mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC), PD Jafor Bayezid in collaboration with the concerned contractors misappropriated crores of Taka from the project without completing the works as per schedule.

Taking advantage of the July-August uprising, he assisted contractors to withdraw cent percent bills by June 30, 2024 with unfinished works, as the government and nation’s attention was on the chaotic situation in the country centering the greater transformation after fall of Awami League government.

Not only that, the brainy PD by managing the then Deputy Commissioner (DC) in Sirajganj Muhammad Nazrul Islam, who was President of plot management and allocation committee, officially handed over the plots to the applicants on July 30 this year. But, the game was started, when plots’ recipients went to set up industries at their plots. They found that, the plots were not filled up with the soil as per the schedule. Besides, the roads and drainages were constructed without maintaining standard.

M Rejaul Karim Ranju, one of the plot recipient said, “If we go to fill up the soil at our plots, we need at least Tk 50 lakh to Tk 60 lakh each. How is it possible to set up industry in these plots,” he put a question.

Saiful Islam, another entrepreneur told The Daily Sky that, “Now we are in dilemma that where the money will be spent? Is it in plot or industry? If we spend money in plot filling up, we will loss capacity to establish industry there in time. Finding no better option, we have submitted complaint to the high-ups seeking remedy. We urged the authorities concerned to take immediate steps to fill up the deep places by pouring soil and renovate the substandard roads and drains.”

Attempt to contact Jafor Bayezid over cell phone was foiled as he did not respond.

It is to be mentioned that, the government established Sirajganj Industrial Park on 400 acres of land covering Satiantoli, Pashchim Mohonpur, Bonbaria, Belutia and Morgram mouza in Sirajganj Sadar upazila spending Tk 719.21 crore. There is a plant to set up 570 various types of industries on 829 plots in the park.