Iajuddin gave major chunk to his district

Individuals of Munshiganj, the home district of former President Iajuddin Ahmed, got priority over all other citizens in the country in receiving donations from the president's discretionary fund last year.
The former president donated around Tk 75 lakh to 644 individuals and 33 institutions of 17 districts in Dhaka division. Of them, 306 individuals of Munshiganj got grants, according to a list disclosed in parliament yesterday.
Replying to a query of BNP lawmaker Nazrul Islam Manju, Planning Minister Air Vice Marshal (retd) AK Khandker, who is also in charge of the president's office in parliamentary business, revealed the list.
The list says Iajuddin donated a total of Tk 96.58 lakh last year to individuals and institutions of six divisions.
The former president donated Tk 74.95 lakh to 644 individuals and 33 institutions of Dhaka division, Tk 9.24 lakh to 87 individuals and 37 institutions of Chittagong division, Tk 5.11 lakh to 90 individuals and five institutions of Rajshahi division, Tk 1.5 lakh to 21 individuals of Khulna division, Tk 4.32 lakh to 64 individuals and 17 institutions of Barisal division and Tk 1.46 lakh to 27 individuals and two institutions of Sylhet division.
Iajuddin donated money to individuals mainly for their medical treatments and educational expenditure of their children.
AK Khandker said the president donated the money from his discretionary fund in line with the policy circulated by the Cabinet Division on March 20, 1978.
The immediate past caretaker government increased the amount of the president's discretionary fund to Tk 1 crore from Tk 50 lakh.