Probe committee formed

Amid allegations of irregularities in Ashrayan-2 project of the government in Natore’s Naldanga upazila, the upazila administration on April 24 formed a committee to probe into the claims.

On April 18, The Daily Star in a report headlined “Irregularities tarnish Ashrayan project in Naldanga” shed light on the allegations.

A number of beneficiaries of Ashrayan-2, undertaken to build houses for insolvent land owners, alleged that they had to bribe local public representatives or people affiliated with the ruling party to enlist their names in the project in Naldanga upazila.

Speaking with this correspondent, Naldanga Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sakib Al Rabbi said the probe committee he formed has four members and it is headed by Amirul Islam, agriculture officer of the upazila.

He said Akbar Ali, an elderly panhandler from Biprobelghoria union, submitted a written complaint to him against Union Parishad (UP) Member Bebi Begum.

Furthermore, upon receiving proof of irregularities on the Ashrayan project, he asked Piprul UP chairman to suspend Delwar, member of the union parishad.

 “He [the UP chairman] will take action at the meeting of the union parishad and later he will provide copies [of the action in writing] to me and the deputy director of Local Government Division in Natore,” UNO Sakib said.

Several of the complainants including Biprobelghoria’s Akbar Ali said they were receiving threats for filing corruption complaints with the UNO’s office.