Tube-wells meant for poor go to officers' club, rich men's houses
Government tube-wells meant for providing pure drinking water to poor people have been set in on the premises of the officers' club in Nilphamari town, and in the houses of rich ruling party men and union parishad (UP) chairmen and their relatives in most unions of Sadar upazila under the district.
The Department of Public Health and Engineering (DPHE) provided 25 tube-wells with metalled platform to Nilphamari Sadar upazila parishad in December last year under a project for providing pure drinking water to the poor and distressed people in 14 unions of the upazila, sources said.
As per official provision, allocated tube-wells are usually set at a place where at least 10 poor families can procure water, said Abdul Kader, executive engineer of DPHE in Nilphamari.
But visiting different places of the upazila, this correspondent saw a different picture.
In Charaikhola union, a tube-well was allocated against the name of Safiar Rahman, a neighbour of the local UP chairman, but it was set in the bathroom of the chairman's house and he (chairman) rented the portion of the house.
As this correspondent asked UP chairman Abdur Rouf Molla about the matter over cell phone, he expressed annoyance and switched off his mobile.
In Panchapukur union, a tube-well was allotted in favour of Saidul Islam, a rich man, also younger brother of local UP chairman and ruling Awami League (AL) leader Wahidul Islam.
In Ramnagar union, two tube-wells were allocated for Momtaj Ali, former president of local unit of Jubo League, and his brother Halim, and both the tube-wells were set inside their houses.
Uttom Kumar Roy, brother of Polashbari UP chairman Tapon Kumar Roy, got a tube-well and set it inside the village home of the chairman.
Madrasa teacher Abdul Hamid, also a solvent farmer in Itakhola union, got allotment of a tube-well but he kept it inside a room of his house as he had already a good tube-well of his own.
The upazila parishad concerned even allocated a tube-well in favour of the officers' club near the DC office.
The deputy commissioner of Nilphamari, also president of the officers club, said, "The tube-well has been set near the officers' club perhaps to provide pure water to the community as there is a high school and college and district collectorate building nearby."
Abyzar Rahman, chairman of Sadar upazila parishad, said, "The union parishads selected the names and sent to the upazila administration for finalisation. We had to rely on them. We shall try to follow rules strictly in future."
Sabet Ali, upazila nirbahi officer, said he would ask for investigation into the matter and necessary steps would be taken, if irregularity is found.
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