69 allegations against CCC at public hearing

People attending a public hearing yesterday raised 69 complaints against  Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) including nepotism, embezzlement,  encroachment by councillors, and promoting officers violating seniors.

The public hearing was organised by Anti-Corruption  Commission (ACC) in collaboration with Chattogram city unit of  Transparency International, at Shah Alam Bir Uttam Auditorium of  Chattogram Medical College Hospital. The hearing, held in presence  of ACC Commissioner AFM Aminul Islam, continued from 10am to  2pm.

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ACC had hanged banners at various spots of the port city a week ago, asking  residents to join the hearing to share any allegations they had about CCC.

Jahir Ahmed, a landlord at Chandgaon Residential Area, alleged that  in 2015 he paid a total of Tk 1.43 lakh as holding tax to the revenue  section of CCC, but was given a slip where the amount was shown as Tk  55,000. He sought solution at various offices of the revenue department, but to no avail, he complained at the hearing.

  The ACC commissioner issued  seven days to CCC officials to resolve the problem.

Abdul Matin, a  businessman, alleged that revenue officer  (revenue circle-5) Jane Alam -- who has since been suspended -- had embezzled Tk 33  lakh that he deposited for a plot being sold by CCC.

“He gave me  some documents against my deposit, that later turned out to be fake. Thus, he  robbed me of my money,” Matin alleged at the hearing.

The ACC commissioner  issued ultimatum to CEO of CCC to take necessary  steps to return his money.

Samsul Huda, a contractor, alleged that superintendent engineer Sudip Bosak of CCC mechanical department embezzled  Tk 2 crore, through discrepancy in disbursement of stones for  construction work of a road.

Sudip Bosak denied the allegation and said  everything was done in line with CCC rules, but ACC commissioner asked  chief executive officer of the city corporation to provide him with a report within one  month on the matter.

ACC commissioner AFM Aminul Islam said  the government is taking every service to the doorstep of every citizen. “We are working to make sure that there is no barrier in receiving  government services. Any corruption -- no matter who commits it -- will be met with in harsh way,” he added.