Accused officials to face the music, warns Muhith

Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Tuesday warned that the officials who will try to manipulate or block release of any project fund allocated from the national budget will be punished, reports UNB.

Speaking at a function organised at the Jatiya Press Club marking the 24th founding anniversary of Nirapad Sharak Chai (NISHCHA), he said the organisation, founded by actor Ilias Kanchan, received Tk 200 million from funds approved by the Jatiya Sangsad. But, he said, it has simply got lost in the process after the proposal was sent to the Finance Ministry for paperwork, with the money never being disbursed.

The actor came up with a complaint to the finance minister at the programme, which left Muhith embarrassed and fuming.

Muhith said the officials responsible for this 'red-tapism' have no right to block any allocation of funds which have been approved by Parliament. The minister urged the officials to remain alert and warned that those who will be caught trying to be over-smart will be punished.

Chaired by NISHCHA's vice chairman and Rotarian Syed Ehsanul Haque, the programme was addressed, among others, by Valerie Ann Taylor, founder of the Centre for the Rehabilitation o the Paralysed (CRP), Shamim Alam Dipon, secretary general of NISHCHA and its publication secretary Md Riaz Uddin.