Probe detects irregularities in Sylhet chamber

A committee formed in line with an instruction by the commerce ministry has detected irregularities in the Sylhet Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) in the run-up to its December elections.
The probe report found that the SCCI officials had enrolled an unusual number of voters in a bid to influence the elections.
The probe body, formed by Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Sajjadul Hasan and Additional DC (general) ATM Mamunur Rashid, filed the report on September 29.
An approval to 680 new members at the August 21 meeting seemed abnormal, the report says.
The committee also found financial irregularities over a recent trade fair. The trade body realised around Tk 12 lakh from the event manager of the fair against a Tk 22 lakh deal. Three cheques, given by event manager Bangladesh Benarasi Muslin and Zamdani Society, bounced, chamber officials claimed in their statements to the probe body.
On October 6, Roksana Quader, deputy secretary to the commerce ministry, served a notice on SCCI President Zunnun Mahmud Khan to explain in seven days why an administrator will not be appointed to the chamber to hold elections properly.
The probe committee interviewed the complainants -- Matiur Rahman Khan and SM Iqbal Hossain, former directors, and Md Ali Hossain, a member.
On the other hand, Khondaker Shipar Ahmed and Zobayer Ahmed Chowdhury, SCCI vice-presidents, defended their organisation
Former SCCI president Faruque Ahmed Misbah along with SCCI Secretary Siraj ud Doula had also appeared before the probe body.
The report mentioned that there might be an audit into the chamber accounts.
“We are yet to get any show-cause notice from the ministry,” said Zobayer.