ALLEGATION of embezzling Tk 26.35 crore allocated against more than a hundred projects for rural infrastructure maintenance and repair in Magura is a big example of ongoing corruption. In most projects, the ruling party men withdrew allocations without doing any work or documenting false projects. A vernacular daily investigated out that at least 35 projects were funded twice while some projects have no trace. Members of Parliament from the district brought the allocations from the government for awarding their diehard workers and supporters by national exchequer. The District and Upazila Administrations found corruption in most of the projects but did not take any punitive action against the wrong-doers due to their link with the ruling clout.
Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief in 2016-17 fiscal allocated the budget against 1132 projects meant for ‘Test Relief’ and ‘Food for Work’ which were supposed to be completed by June 30, 2017. Due to the last-minute spending spree, most of the projects were half-done, unfinished or non-existence but the allocations were duly realized by the contractors, also UP chairmen and members, while the role of watchdog was absent. In some cases, roads were repaired by earth-filling but locals claim no repair work have had in the area, though the local UP Chairmen and members were the project heads. In some areas, it is said a canal was dug out but there was no trace of any canal in the area. The District Administration investigated the allegations against the UP Chairmen and members who were the project heads and found ample of prove of corruption.
Total governance is seemed plagued by “Kleptocracy” where corrupt peoples lead the government and deal with the governance.
Corruption has replaced politics of service for the people.
