A vested quarter in Lakshmipur sadar upazila has allegedly been embezzling the money allotted by the government under Employment Generation Program for the Poorest (EGPP), a social safety net programme.
Besides, there was a big irregularities in the rural development projects as well, said sources in the upazila. Through the projects, the government implement the development works in the rural areas in line with benefiting the rural ultra-poor people.
As a result, public money is going to the pocket of the evildoers depriving the poverty-stricken people.
Sources in the upazila said they pocketed the money of some EGPP projects with half-works done. In some cases, they withdrew EGPP money not doing anything virtually.
Earlier, most of the money allotted for the projects was withdrawn by showing those done just in papers.
During the FY 2013-2014, there was an allotment of 1,234,250 metric tonne wheat worth Tk24,364,233 under the EGPP while there was about Tk2.5 crore for the development projects.
Several sadar upazila EGPP project committee members wishing anonymity said about 25-30 percent money of a project had to give the project implementation official as bribe to get the work while the local ruling party
leaders get 35-40 percent money, because of which the assigned-contractors were not been able to do the tasks wholly.
Sadar upazila EGPP project implementation official Siaful Islam denied the allegation of bribe, saying that “It is true that there were some irregularities in the projects, but allegation of no works done is wholly false.”
Contacted, Lakshmipur Sadar upazila chairman AKM Salah Uddin Tipo said he found nothing when he, being informed of the irregularities, visited some projects under the programme.
“I have also heard that most of the money of those projects was distributed as well. I urge upon the higher authorities to take immediate steps against the offenders,” the chairman continued.