'Probe irregularities in Gaibandha municipality'

A written complaint against Sabur has been submitted to the local government ministry, a joint statement signed by three ward commissioners said at a press conference held at Gaibandha press club on June 10. The three were Shamsul Alam, Kazi Ziaul Hafiz and Faruk Ahmed.

They alleged that the chairman was running the municipality at whims while citizens were deprived of minimum civic amenities. Even, untreated water is supplied, they alleged.

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The chairman rarely holds monthly meetings and decisions are taken at his sweet will.

They said commissioners walked out of a recent monthly meeting in protest when the chairman placed a development project which was not on the agenda.

In the current financial year, Tk 20 lakh was allocated for Gaibandha municipality under the annual development plan (ADP) but the chairman floated tenders for projects involving Tk 98 lakh.

It was stated in the tenders that 'payment of bills will be subject to availability of fund under ADP'. But as per law, bills have to be paid from the pourashava general fund if there is no ADP allocation. "This is a whimsical decision of the chairman", said Shamsul Alam.

Such payments are misuse of public money while the pourashava is in fund crisis and can not pay its retired employees.

They demanded investigation into activities of the pourasabha.