Galagao Upazila Parishad (UP) chairman and a section of union parishad members led by the Galagao upazila parishad chairman in Mymensingh have allegedly embezzled Tk4,258,000 of government funds.
According to local sources, the syndicate has misappropriated money from a project entitled “Kormo-Srijon Prokolpo” (work-creation project).
Galagao UP chairman Abdur Rahman and his some accomplices withdrew a huge sum of money from a local bank to pay the salaries of workers, but they did not disburse the money.
The sources said construction work on roads, bridges, canals and school/madrasa playgrounds under three projects that had been initiated on November 30 last year were stopped on January 23.
A total of 594 labourers were involved in the construction work on the project and daily wages were fixed at Tk175.
Over three weeks have passed, but the chairman has not disbursed the payments. As a result, labourers have been in serious financial difficulties.
Since then, labourers have been staging demonstrations in front of the upazila parishad office, demanding their arrears.
In the face of the demonstrations, Abdur Rahman and other UP members have stopped going to the office.
Labourers – Chan Mia, Nasim Uddim, Abdul Kalam, Rahela Khatun and Jobeda Begum – said they would continue their demonstration until their salaries are paid.
When contacted, Chairman Abdur Rahman refuted all the allegations brought against him and said a group of local Awami League leaders had been inciting the workers against him, as they [the AL leaders] had not been given money for the project.
Tarakanda Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Alamgir said he had been informed of the matter.
He assured the labourers that he would be taking stern action against the chairman after a proper investigation.
