National Desk :
Allegation of irregularities, and beneficiaries being deprived has been raised in a 40-day project of the government’s ‘Employment Generation Program for the poorest’ in Magura.
On a recent visit to the project sites, UNB reporter could spot maximum 8 to 10 labourers working on each site.
The project was being conducted in a lax manner defying the government rule of appointing 35 to 40 workers in each site.
A local Awami League leader reluctant to disclose his name said the irregularities persisted in the project to benefit some corrupt public representatives of the district’s Kuchiapara union.
The appointed poor workers suffer to maintain their family with the insufficient wage of Tk 200 per head, he said.
A headman from the project said, the later the bills get paid the more it benefits the local chairman and MPs.
As they have to share the profits with officers, cashing bills twice in 40 days benefits them more while the poor workers suffer, added the headman.
When asked about the matter, Project Implementation Committee (PIC) members Kanak Bala, Imroj and Babul Hossain Molla claimed there is scarcity of labourers as paddy harvesting season is going on.
Most of the project headmen echoed the same reason for inadequate labourers being appointed at the sites.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abu Sufiyan and education officer Bajnedra Nath said they have asked for increasing the number of labourers but the heads of the project didn’t pay heed.
When informed, the Project Implementation Officer of the project said bills will be paid only for the appointed number of workers.
The chairman of the union Jahangir Hossain didn’t receive the call when contacted over the phone on this matter.
