ACC probing alleged irregularities in Panchagarh
A probe body formed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is investigating the alleged irregularities in pond re-excavation project at former enclave villages in Sadar and Debiganj upazilas of Panchagarh.
Fisheries Department implemented the Tk 94.88 lakh project to re-excavate 27 ponds including four state-owned water bodies and 23 other private owned ones for development of fish cultivation in the two upazilas.
Four contractors, namely, Tofazzal Hossain, Kamrul Islam, M M Mahfuzul Haque and Zakia Khatun were given the work order.
During this correspondent’s recent visit to different erstwhile enclave villages, the beneficiary pond owners alleged that the fisheries department officials embezzled major portions of the money allocated for re-excavating ponds with the connivance of the contractors.
Md Ibrahim of Garati village in Panchagarh Sadar upazila said Tk 3.63 lakh was sanctioned for excavating about 2,363 cubic feet of earth in his 0.33-hectare pond.
The time frame of the work was February 18 to April 18 but it was done only three days with an excavator, the total worktime being 25 hours, he said.
“Usually soil is dug for Tk 1,500 to Tk 2,000 per hour with an excavator on rental basis. Accordingly, the contractor spent Tk 50,000 at most for digging my pond, against the allocation of Tk 3.63 lakh. And he put up a sign with a brief descriptive note,” he said.
Md Nuruzzaman of the same village said Tk 1.82 lakh was allocated for his 0.32-hectare pond to remove 1,184.82 cubic feet of earth but the contractor used excavator for the work only for 17 hours.
The excavated soil was dumped in an unplanned way and the pond got refilled with mud washed by rainwater, he said.
“Seventeen ponds in the upazila were re-excavated under the fisheries department’s scheme but the ponds returned to their previous conditions in a short time as the work was not done properly,” said Muntahin Billah of Dahala Khagrabari village in Debiganj upazila.
“The officials or contractors didn’t tell us clearly about the budget and amount of the work, apparently to embezzle money,” he added.
On July 4, one Selim Sohag made complaint about misappropriation of project money during a public hearing organised by the ACC at Panchagarh Government Auditorium.
Consequently, ACC Commissioner AFM Aminul Islam formed a three-member investigation committee headed by the additional district magistrate (ADM) of Panchagarh and asked them to file report within 15 days.
Tofazzol Hossain, one of the contractors, at first denied working under the project. As this correspondent referred to the information provided by the fisheries directorate he said he re-excavated two ponds following instructions of the work order.
Rabiul Islam, engineer of fisheries department, said, “I have tried to get the re-excavation work done as per schedule. The duration of work was short as the contractors used large excavators for digging. We reduced the payment to the contractor concerned where less than the stipulated work was done.”
Refuting the allegation of irregularities, District Fisheries Officer Dr Aftab Hossain said a little anomalies might occur in such type of contractual work.
He claimed that the engineer measured the work and most of the beneficiaries were happy.
Contacted, Panchagarh ADM Abdul Mannan said, “We started investigation last week and already talked with several beneficiaries. It will take a few days to complete the probe.”
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