Govt-run computer academy chief, aides sued for cheating

Hundreds of job seekers 'trapped' by an NGO run by the accused

24 March 2009, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent, Bogra

Director of National Academy for Computer Training and Research (NACTAR) and his associates have allegedly embezzled huge amount of money promising jobs to a number of people. Abdul Mannan Sarker, director of the Bogra-based government organisation under the Ministry of Education, also runs NGO Science and Information Technology Foundation (SIT Foundation). Police recently arrested Noor Alam, regional director of SIT Foundation, following a case filed for cheating job-seekers of Tk about 3.75 lakh. Police in its primary investigation found that Abdul Mannan Sarker and his associates collected Tk 10,000 to Tk 1 lakh from each of about 1800 job seekers. Following allegations of illegal transaction of money three months ago, a Bangladesh Bank (BB) investigation showed that NACTAR director Abdul Mannan Sarker, his associate Hafizur Rahman Jahangir and some others collected money of different amount from common people assuring them to give jobs in different foreign-aided projects, said a high official of BB Bogra branch. Several people said they informed Deputy Commi-ssioner Humayun Kabir and Superintendent of Police Akram Hossain of the matter of taking money in the name of providing jobs. Talking to journalists over cell phone, Abdul Mannan Sarker and Md Hafizur Rahman Jahangir said the allegations against them were false. Abdul Mannan Sarker, who lost his job during the four-party alliance government on charges of corruption and other irregularities, later got back his job with presidential mercy. Hafizur Rahman Jahangir was sacked from his forest department job. On August 7 last year, Abdul Mannan Sarker organised a seminar with government fund at NACTAR, apparently to draw attention of the job seekers. The initiative was an immediate success, as people approached SIT Foundation in larger numbers and entrusted its officials with money for getting jobs, sources said. Earlier on January 25 Shah Mohammad Lenin filed a case against the chairman of SIT Foundation, his son Roushan Kamal and regional director Noor Alam. Shah Mohammad Lenin said he has money receipt worth Tk 67 lakh that was collected from the job seekers. About two weeks ago, a GD was filed with Sherpur Police Station against the NGO for cheating people in the name of providing jobs. Recently 'cheated people' demonstrated at Shukhan-pukur in Gabtali upazila demanding return of their money deposited with the NGO.