The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against 19 people, including two former mayors of Santhia municipality, for allegedly misappropriating Tk 43 lakh of government allocation for dengue mosquito control, cleaning, campaigning and combating coronavirus.
On Wednesday afternoon, Deputy Assistant Director of ACC's Pabna Coordinated District Office Md Manowar Hossain filed the case with Santhia Police Station against the 19 people, including two former mayors of the municipality Mirazul Islam Pramanik, 58, and Mahbubul Alam Bachchu, 48.
The other accused in the case are Santhia municipality's former executive engineer Jahangir Hossain Khan, 54, Shahinuzzaman, 53, accountant Abdul Barik, 49, work assistant Abu Ichha Shafiul Alam, 47, chief assistant Nuruzzaman, 43, MLSS Nurul Islam, 46, Ward No. 9 councillor Hamid Bepari, 66, Ward No. 1 councillor Chand Ali, 52, Ward No. 9 former councillor Abdul Latif, 62, Ward No. 5 former commissioner Abdul Hai, 65, Ward No. 8 councillor Tochhaddek Hossain Nasim, 43, Ward No. 6 councillor Afsar Ali, 68, Ward No. 5 councillor Alauddin, 33, Ward No. 3 former commissioner Shariful Islam, 44, Ward Nos. 7, 8, 9 councillor Jiban Nahar, 60, former commissioner of Ward Nos. 1, 2, 3 Bulbuli Khatun, 55, and 4, 5, 6 Ward councillor Hasina Khatun, 47.
According to the case statement, Tk 15.9 lakh allocated in the financial year 2019-2020 for the purpose of dengue mosquito eradication, cleanliness and promotion, combating the Covid-19 (coronavirus) epidemic in favour of Santhia Municipality under Santhia Upazila of Pabna, Tk 11 lakh allocated in 2020-2021 financial year, Tk 11.25 lakh allocated in 2021-2022 financial year have been embezzled by creating fake bill-vouchers and quotations.
In addition, the accused have colluded with each other and embezzled a total of Tk 2.15 lakh by withdrawing bills for fuel expenses of private vehicles in Santhia municipality and Tk 2.72 lakh in the name of drain cleaning of Santhia municipality. The case was registered against them for committing an offense punishable under section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act by creating fake bills-vouchers and quotations and embezzling a total of Tk 43 lakh.
ACC’s Pabna Coordinated District Office Deputy Assistant Director Md Manowar Hossain said based on the initial complaint, various projects of the municipality are investigated whether the work has been done properly. The accused have embezzled the money allocated for dealing with the coronavirus instead of spending it on people. A case has been registered after finding the truth of the allegations. A charge-sheet will be submitted against the accused after investigation.
