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Dhunat Upazila in Bogra

Half of TR project fund gobbled up

Fake projects, documents used, allege officials

15 February 2009, 18:00 PM

NATIONAL

Hasibur Rahaman, Bilu, Bogra

About half of over Tk 1 crore allocated for several development works under 'Test Relief'” (TR) programme in Dhunat upazila under Bogra district has been allegedly misappropriated. False documents were prepared about completion of development works including earth filling on Dhunat-Sariakandi bituminous pavement under the programme, say preliminary findings by TR officials. The TR officials were carrying out the probe on their own on getting several complaints. “At least 50 lakh taka has been misappropriated out of a total 106,33,245 taka through submitting false papers on master roll employment,” said Mohammed Faridul Haque, project implementation officer (PIO) in Dhunat upazila under Bogra district. “After completion of a development project near my office, I visited it but found implementation of only 50 percent of the work. Four tonnes of wheat worth Tk 108,780 was allocated for the earth-filling project. But hardly 50,000 taka has been spent to complete the project,” he said. “Several master roll papers on recently completed TR projects bear the same handwriting, showing the indication of preparing false documents,” said the PIO replying to a question. Bogra District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer (DRRO) AKM Zillur Rahman said, “The government allocated 4,112 tonne wheat worth Tk 11,17,17,060 to implement 2,265 development projects under TR programme for 12 upazilas in the district.” The TR project works started on December 12 last year and were 'completed' within January 15 this year. “I have received a written complaint from Kahalu upazila that a chairman of a road maintenance project withdrew four tonne wheat worth Tk 1,08,780 but he spent only two tonne of wheat to complete the maintenance project,” Zillur Rahman said. “A large sum of money had been misappropriated in the district through submitting false projects and preparing fake project completion documents as per preliminary probe. A large number of development projects in Dhunat are fake,” said a senior official of TR projects in the district seeking anonymity. “I did not see any earth filling work in my area during the last three months although three tonne of wheat was allocated for a project on the maintenance work of existing bituminous pavement under TR programme,” said doctor Anil of Dhunat pourasava area. An earth-filling project was taken for 'Chalar Bhita Natun Jame Masjid' but the work is yet to start, said Mohammad Jahangir Alam of Alangi union in Dhunat. Admitting the matter, project committee Chairman Habibur Rahman said the work will start within a short time.