All ten Dimla UP chairmen allege corruption by PIO

All the ten union parishad chairmen of Dimla upazila have recently lodged a complaint with the ministry concerned alleging that the upazila project implementation officer (PIO) took bribe for implementing rural infrastructural development programmes.
The complainants in their petition submitted on July 1 said that PIO Mozibar Rahman forced the project committee chairmen to pay Tk 1800 against each tonne of rice to issue delivery order (DO).
About 500 projects in different areas of the upazila were implemented in 2011-12 fiscal year under the rural infrastructural development programmes for which 850 metric tonnes of rice was allocated, sources said. According to the allegation, the Dimla PIO thus realised Tk 15 lakh as bribe from all the project chairmen against issuance of the DO.
The PIO even realised money from the projects of renovation work of mosques, temples and other religious establishments, the complainants said.
“I have raised the matter at the monthly co-ordination meeting of the upazila this month in presence of local lawmaker Jafar Iqbal Siddique seeking justice,” said Rabiul Islam, vice chairman of Dimla upazila parishad and one of the signatories to the complaint.
He further alleged that since filing of the complaint, the PIO has not been attending his office regularly.
Chairman of Gayabari union parishad Sharif Ibne Faisal Moon alleged that the work of many projects in his area become of sub standard quality as the Dimla PIO realised a big amount of money from the project chairmen concerned for issuing delivery order.
Zahidul Islam, chairman of Balapara union parishad, said many project chairmen in his union were compelled to pay the PIO from their own pockets.
Lawmaker of Domar-Dimla constituency Jafar Iqbal Siddique said he was aware of the allegation. “If the allegations are found true, I shall ask the higher authorities to take action,” he added.
Dimla UNO Abu Rafa Md Arif said, he got a copy of the complaint sent to the ministry of disaster, relief and rehabilitation.
Contacted, Dimla PIO Mozibar Rahman refuted the allegations. He said false allegations were brought against him as he did not allow any irregularities and went for strong monitoring of the projects.