Audit finds fund embezzlement by madrasa principal
An audit report has found serious anomalies regarding spending of fund of Nechhariya Kamil Madrasa at Sadar Hospital Road in Lalmonirhat town.
Moslem Uddin, principal of the madrasa, failed to show document for spending madrasa fund of Tk 16.94 lakh and 642 and embezzled Tk 13.54 lakh after illegally selling 14 decimals of land of the institution, according to the report of the audit conducted by a six-member team formed by the madrasa governing body.
The team led by auditor Mohammad Tareque conducted their investigation for the period from January 2016 to December 2018 and submitted report to the authorities concerned on 23 May 2019.
Local journalists got a copy of the report a few days ago.
Moslem Uddin, a resident of Ulipur upazila in Kurigram, joined as principal of the madrasa on May 23 in 2015.
“The audit report was published after proper verification. The principal said he spent the money for madrasa’s development but failed to show proper documents. He didn’t take the governing body’s approval to spend the fund,” said audit team member Azaharul Islam, also guardians’ representative in the madrasa governing body.
Now 1000 students read in the madrasa where 27 teachers and 8 other staff serve.
Several students said their classes are not held regularly according to class routine but they did not get any remedy after complaining to the principal.
Teachers alleged, the principal hardly takes opinion of other teachers regarding academic and development works of the madrasa.
Locals and guardians alleged that the principal is constructing a three-storey building at Adarshapara in the town after misappropriating a huge amount of money in the name of madrasa’s development work.
Contacted, principal Moslem Uddin said, “The audit report was wrong. There was mismatch of around Tk 10 lakh in the madrasa’s account. I deposited Tk 6 lakh to the madrasa account on August 25 and the governing body forgave me for not depositing the rest amount.”
“I sold 14 decimals of the madrasa’s land at Khochabari Sadhutari in the town for Tk 13,54,000 in last year after taking legal permission and the fund was spent for madrasa’s development work,” he said.
Asked how selling of the institution’s landed property could be legal and who gave the permission for it, he remained silent.
“Audit report is not a headache for me if the governing body doesn’t take any action,” he said, adding that he is constructing his house with his own fund.
Asked for her version, madrasa governing body President Safura Begum Rumi said, “I know the matter in detail but I won’t say anything to journalists in this regard now. We will hold a meeting of the governing body very soon, and then we will deliver our statement to the press.”
Teachers, students, guardians and locals have urged the government authorities concerned for taking necessary action against the alleged corrupt principal and bringing back proper academic atmosphere at the madrasa.
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