Little progress amid fear of another disaster
Back in 2017, when a flash flood ravaged crops and caused untold sufferings in the haor areas, people flared up, seeking punishment of those involved in the graft centring construction of dams.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) took up the matter and filed a case in July 2017.
It submitted a charge-sheet on March 13, 2019 before the Senior Special Judge Court of Sunamganj.
But the case has seen little progress.
"The court is yet to frame charges," said Paritosh Chandra Roy, public prosecutor of ACC in Sunamganj.
The matter came to the fore again when another flash flood submerged around 7,083 hectares of cropland with Boro harvest in Sunamganj, Sylhet, Netrakona and Kishoreganj this year. Locals of Sunamganj were the worst affected, as 4,900 hectares of land was inundated by the flood, originating from the torrential rain in India's Meghalaya.
Five years ago, the flash flood submerged more than two lakh hectares of agricultural land, causing a loss of nearly a million tonnes of Boro crops, and nearly three lakh people required immediate relief.
In its investigation, ACC found that the accused, being well aware of the timing of flash floods, had not constructed the dams at the right time and misappropriated Tk 8.14 crore of government funds.
"Their negligence and embezzlement had triggered the floods that caused immense loss and suffering to the people of this region," it stated.
Fourteen officials of Water Development Board (WDB) and 19 contractors who were involved in the construction and maintenance of the dams in haors at that time were made accused in the charge sheet.
Paritosh said an accused, WDB's assistant director Lincon Sarkar, did not show up before the court. "As a result, the court could not frame charges in absence of the accused." The court recently decided to begin the trial in absentia.
"A gazette notification will be issued in this regard. After that, charges will be framed," he said.
Preferring to be unnamed, a WDB official said Lincon left the country soon after the filing of the case by ACC in 2017.
Meanwhile, in an order on March 3, 2022, the WDB directorate of discipline withheld all arrear payment to Lincon.
Contacted, ACC Director General (Legal and Prosecution) Mir Ruhul Amin said police delayed in giving a report on the whereabouts of Lincon. "It's a different agency. If they delay in giving report, what can we do?" he said.
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