Corruption charge against Rangpur poura chairman

Ten ward of commissioners at a press conference here yesterday brought allegations of corruption and nepotism against Rangpur Municipality Chairman of Abdur Rouf Manik.

Idris Ali, panel chairman of the municipality, read out a written statement at the press conference, held at the District Council auditorium. He made as many as 10 allegations against the municipal chairman.

He said the chairman terminated 170 employees of the municipality and re-appointed some of them without approval of the municipal council.

Ward Commissioner Idris Ali alleged that the chairman selected contractors for repairing different roads without discussion with the council.

He also alleged that as per local government regulation, a municipal chairman is supposed raise agenda of any development project or programme at council meeting for approval, but he selected projects himself and invited contractors, ignoring the council.

The municipality with Tk 10 crore government funds is now repairing different roads in the town.

Idris Ali said, "The way the tender committee selected contractors were wrong and inappropriate."

He also claimed that the municipality is spending Tk 1.5 crore more than the estimate, which could be saved if work orders were not issued at 'inflated' rates.

When asked by this correspondent later, Municipal Cchairman Abdur Rouf Manik denied all allegations brought against him.

He said approval of the council is not needed when a tender committee is formed beforehand as per the government guidelines.

He said, "Being convener, I issued work orders to qualified contractors after approval by the tender committee comprising the executive engineers of Roads and Highway Department, Public Works Department, Local Government and Engineering Department and Rangpur Municipality."

He said, "What I did was right as per terms and conditions of BMDF (Bangladesh Municipal Development Fund).