BOGRA, Sept 3: To bring happiness for flood affected people, several development projects of the flood affected zone are being implemented at government and non-government levels in char areas under Sariakandi upazila of Bogra district costing millions of taka and hundreds of tonnes of rice as well as wheat. But, the concerned authority are engaged themselves with bungling of budged money, it was alleged by local people.
Sources said, for the development of the disaster prone areas of the upazilas, the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) had allocated Tk 17.3 million (Tk 1.73 crore) while the World Food Programme (WFP) provided 252 tonnes of rice, 16 tonnes of soybean oil and 8 metric tonnes of lentil.
The Gram Unnayan Karma (GUK), a local NGO, got the work order of Sariakandi upazila project from the LGED Ministry. But a big portion of the allocated fund, rice and wheat have been misappropriated by a section of people involved with the project, it was allocated.
Locals alleged that the GUK has built 2600 meter road from Shonpacha Char Fakirer Bari to Jamuna River Ghat for mitigating suffering of the commuters whereas the budget was for 2900 meter road. A huge amount of money was embezzled from the project. The new road does not have any top, slap and height as per design. Most of the workers of the project were also deprived by the corrupt officers.
On several occasions, they (workers) complained to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), but no action has yet been taken against the officers.
Concerned sources said, investigation against the allegation was conducted by the UNO but a local influential is trying to put off the action plan. Coordinator of the project Liton Badsha of Sariakandi upazila said, I am only manager of the project but the total project is being run under the LGED Ministry. Only the LGED will be able to say about corruption, he added.
When contracted, Pranab Mukherjee, Supervisor of WFP, said they don't have any information of corruption on the Sariakandi upazila project. "On receiving complaint against the corruption we will investigate the matter," he said.
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